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THE 

LIFE 


ADMIRAL  LORD  NELSON,  K. 


THE 


LIFE 


OF 

ADMIRAL  LORD  NELSON,  K.B. 

I 

FROM 

HIS  LORDSHIP'S   MANUSCRIPTS. 

(ABRIDGED  FROM  THE  QUARTO  EDITION.) 

BY 

The  Rev.  JAMES  STANIER  CLARKE,  F.R.S. 

Librarian  to  the  Prince,  and  Chaplain  of  His  Royal  Highness's  Household, 
%  AND 

JOHN  M'ARTHUR,  Esq.  LL.D. 

Late  Secretary  to  Admiral  Lord  Viscount  Hood.  , 


CRESCERETQUE    MIHI    EX    EO    IPSO    FIDUCIA,   QUOD  POSSIT  iff   HOMISIS 
UNIUS  VIRTUTE  TANTUM  MOMENTI  ESSE. 

TIT.  LIV.  HIST.  XXVIII.  43. 


LONDON: 

PKINTED  BY  T.  B£NSLEY,  BOLT  COURT,  FLEET  STREET, 
FOR  T.  CADELL  AND  W.  DAVIES,  IN  THE  STBANP, 

isfo. 


DEDICATION  TO  THE  QUARTO   EDITION. 


TO  HIS  ROYAL  HIGHNESS 

GEORGE  AUGUSTUS  FREDERICK 


PRINCE  OF  WALES,  DUKE  OF  CORNWALL  AND  ROTHSAY, 

LORD  OF  THE  ISLES, 

FIRST  KNIGHT  OF  THE  MOST  NOBLE  ORDER  OF  THE  GARTER, 
VICE  ADMIRAL  OF  THE  COASTS  OF  DEVON  AND  CORNWALL;— 

X 

SIR, 

WHEN  the  United  Kingdom 
expressed  its  sorrow  at  the  death  of  the  ever 
to  be  lamented  NELSON,  which  even  the 
Glory  of  the  great  Victory  of  Trafalgar  could 
not  abate ;  your  Royal  Highness,  actuated  by 
your  own  feelings,  and  by  a  greatness  and 
benignity  of  Mind  which  have  ever  distin- 


VI 


guished  your  Character,  was  graciously 
pleased  to  offer  to  represent  the  Nation's 
Grief,  as  Chief  Mourner,  at  the  Public  Fu- 
neral which  the  Country  voted  to  one  of  its 
brightest  Ornaments.  And  afterwards,  when 
the  Annals  of  his  life  and  sendees  were  to  be 
given  to  the  Public,  your  Royal  Highness 
was  moreover  pleased  to  request,  that  the 
whole  of  the  late  Admiral's  Manuscripts  in 
the  possession  of  the  Right  Hon.  William 
Earl  Nelson,  as  well  as  the  Letters  which 
had  been  addressed  to  His  Royal  Highness, 
Admiral,  the  Duke  of  Clarence,  should  be 

furnished  to  form  the  history  of  a  Life,  which 

, 

is  to  be  held  out  as  an  example  of  Heroism 
and  professional  Talent  to  future  Generations. 

The  Life  of  Lord  NELSON,  Sir,  with 
your  permission,  is  now  dedicated  to  your 
Royal  Highness.  Those  Patriotic  Principles 
which  under  your  auspices  were  fostered  and 
encouraged,  arc  in  the  following  pages  with 
your  sanction  recorded,  the  sanction  of  the 
Prince  of  that  Country  for  which  NELSON 


Vll 

fought  and  died ;  of  the  Prince  by  whom  he 
was  cherished  whilst  living;  and  by  whom  his 
Memory,  after  death,  was  honoured  in  a 
manner  that  was  congenial  with  the  enthu- 
siasm and  tenderness  of  his  distinguished 
Character. 


JAMES  STANIER  CLARKE. 
JOHN  M'ARTHUR. 


ADVERTISEMENT 


TO    THE 


QU4RTO  EDITION. 


IN  addition  to  the  sanction,  and  leading  assistance, 
which  this  Life  of  Lord  Nelson  received  from  the 
Patronage  of  THE  PRINCE,  the  communications  of 
H.  R.  H.  the  Duke  of  Clarence,  and  the  uniform  atten- 
tion of  William  Earl  Nelson;  a  very  extensive  Collec- 
tion of  the  noble  Admiral's  Letters  was  sent,  at  the 
Viscountess  Nelson's  request,  by  Earl  St.  Vincent,  and 
every  assistance  was  afterwards  given  which  his  Lordship 
could  bestow.  The  very  interesting  Correspondence  with 
Lady  Nelson,  that  marks  through  a  long  interval  the 
private  character  and  feelings  of  her  Husband,  in  the 
vicissitudes  and  various  professional  incidents  of  his 
life,  was  kindly  though  reluctantly  granted.  The  va- 
luable Collection  of  Letters  addressed  to  the  late  Lieut. 
Gov.  Locker,  was  furnished  by  that  Officer's  daughter. 
Admiral  Lord  Hood  directed  the  whole  of  his  Naval 
Papers  to  be  examined,  and  such  of  them  to  be  inserted 
as  tended  to  throw  light  on  those  operations  in  the  Me- 
diterranean, in  which  NELSON  during  Lord  Hood's  com- 


mand  bad  been  engaged.     Oar  thanks  are  also  due  to 
Lord  Hotham,  to  Lord  Keith,   Sir  Andrew  Hamond,  Sir 
R.  Bickerton,  and  to  the  Admirals  Lutwidge,  Sir  C.  M. 
Pole,  Sir  J.T.  Duck  worth,  Holloway,  Foley,  &c.  &c.  To 
the  Captains  G.  Cockburn,  J.  E.  Foote,  Hon.  H.  Black- 
wood,  Sir  E.  Berry,  Sir  T.  M.  Hardy,  Hon.  Courtney 
Boyle,  and  Captain  W.  S.  Parkinson.    To  Major  General 
Stewart,  Right  Hon.  G.  Rose,  the  Hon.  F.  W.  Wyud- 
ham,  Mr.  F.  Drake,  Mr.  Spencer  Smith,   Mr.  H.  Ross, 
Mr.  Davison,  Mr.  Whidbey,  Lieutenant  Bromwich,  and 
to  many  other  Officers  and  Gentlemen ;  whose  names  are 
not  omitted  through  any  want  of  attention,  but  lest  the  in- 
sertion of  sucb  a  number  might  have  an  appearance   of 
ostentation.      There  remains,   however,   one   Nobleman 
whose  kindness  cannot  be  passed  unnoticed,  the  Earl  of 
Egremont,  without  whom  the  interest  of  the  work  would 
have  been  considerably  lessened ;   and  our  acknowledg- 
ments are  due  to  a  distinguished  Friend,  whose  early  and 
zealous  countenance  of  this  laborious  undertaking    will 
ever  be  remembered  with  gratitude. 

The  chief  object  in  this  Life  has  been  to  ascertain, 
and  sometimes  perhaps  more  minutely  than  the  generality 
of  readers  may  approve,  the  private  feelings  and  motives 
of  this  extraordinary  man,  as  well  as  the  great  prin- 
ciples of  his  public  and  professional  character.  Yet  this 
has  been  a  most  arduous  task;  and  its  performance  is 
more  easy  to  cavil  at  than  to  accomplish — it  has,  how- 
ever, been  attempted. 


XI 

The  various  services  of  the  noble  Admiral  in  the  earlier- 
parts  of  his  Public  Life,  particularly  at  the  conclusion- 
of  the  American  war  and  in  the  peace  which  followed, 
have  been  minutely  traced:  in  order  to  mark,  as  far  as 
could  be,  those  troubles  and  disappointments  which  he 
encountered  in  common  with  other  men,  and  the  anxious 
moments  and  neglect  which  he  endured,  until  at  length 
his  wishes  were  gratified  in  being  again  employed  at  the 
commencement  of  the  French  War  in  1793.  —  Neither 
labour,  nor  expense,  have  been  spared  to  complete  the 
present  undertaking;  and  the  Life  is  now  submitted  to 
the  Public,  with  a  perfect  consciousness  that  superior 
abilities,  but  not  greater  industry  or  impartiality,  would 
have  rendered  it  more  worthy  of  the  Fame  of  NELSON 
and  of  the  patronage  of  his  Country. 


Ta  Ss  ira.$siv  su,  tp 
Ev  <$'  axa2<y  Sswrsot,  >J,QI 


Q$  ay   e-yK'jptry  KO.I 

u4>«rrov 


(PINDAR,  Pythla  Carmen  I.) 

To  enjoy  Success  is  the  first  Happiness, 
To  be  admired  for  great  Actions  is  the  second: 
But  the  Man  who  has  and  enjoys  both, 
Receives  the  chief  Crown  of  Honour.", 


THE 

LIFE,    >c, 


BOOK    I. 

FROM    1770   TO    1778. 

Whilst  serving  on  board  his  Majesty's  ships  Raisonalle, 
Triumph,  Carcase,  Sea-Horse,  Worcester,  Lowestnffe, 
and  Bristol. 

I.  HORATIO  NELSON  was  the  son  of  the  Rev. 
Edmund  Nelson,  Rector  of  Burnham  Thorpe,  in 
the  county  of  Norfolk,  and  of  Catherine  his 
wife ;  who  was  sister  to  Captain  Maurice  Suck- 
ling, Comptroller  of  the  Navy,  and  daughter  of 
Doctor  Suckling,  prebendary  of  Westminster, 
whose  grandmother  had  been  sister  to  Sir  Robert 
Walpole  Earl  of  Orford. 

He  was  born  on  the  29th  of  Sept.  1758,  in 
the  parsonage-house  at  Burnham  Thorpe,  and 
received  the  name  of  Horatio,  which  had  pre- 
viously been  given  to  an  elder  brother  who  died 
young,  from  the  late  Earl  of  Orford,  who  was 
his  godfather.  At  a  proper  age  Horatio  was  sent 
to  the  high  school  at  Norwich,  and  was  after- 
wards removed  to  one  at  North  Walsham. 

•. 

B 


Towards  the  close  of  the  year  1770,  daring  (he 
Christmas  holidays,  when  the  Rev.  Edmund  Nel- 
son was  at  Bath  for  his  health,  and  the  greater 
part  of  his  family,  then  consisting  of  eight  chil- 
dren, was  left  at  the  parsonage-house  at  Burn- 
ham  Thorpe,  in  Norfolk;  Horatio,  then  in  his 
thirteenth  year,  who  had  often  expressed  a  wish 
not  to  be  a  burden  to  his  father,  happened  to  read 
in  the  County  paper  the  appointment  of  his  mo- 
ther's brother,  Captain  Maurice  Suckling,  to  the 
Raisonable  of  64  guns.  Upon  which  he  exclaimed, 
•  'Do,  brother3  William,  write  to  my  father  at  Bath, 
and  tell  him  I  should  like  to  go  with  uncle  Mau- 
rice to  sea.'  William,  who  had  been  the  constant 
companion  of  Horatio,  and  was  little  more  than 
seventeen  months  older  than  his  brother,  wrote 
accordingly.  Various  disappointments  with  the 
difficulties  of  a  narrow  income,  had  chilled  in  the 
mind  of  Mr.  Nelson  all  idea  of  patronage  from  his 
connections.  The  daring  resolution,  however,  of 
his  boy  Horatio  gradually  warmed  the  less  san- 
guine mind  of  the  father;  and  infirm  health  ren- 
dering him  anxious  not  to  lose  an  opportunity, 
which  seemed  to  offer  so  desirable  a  provision  for 
one  of  his  sons,  he  resolved  to  write  to  Captain 
Suckling.  From  the  answer  which  Mr.  Nelson 
received,  the  following  passage  is  remembered: 
*  What  has  poor  Horace  done,  who  is  so  weak, 

*  The  present  Earl  Nelson. 


that  he  above  all  the  rest  should  be  sent  to  rough 
it  out  at  sea?  But  let  him  come;  and  the  first  time 
we  go  into  action,  a  cannon  ball  may- knock  off 
Ills  head  and  provide  for  him  at  once.' 

Such  were  the  domestic  incidents  which  de- 
cided the  profession  of  Nelson.     The  Raisonable 
not  being  ready  for  sea,  the  two  brothers  returned 
after  their  Christmas  holidays  were  over  to  their 
school  at  North  Walsham,  where  Horatio  remained 
until  the  spring  of  1771.    During  his  continuance 
at  this  school,   two  anecdotes  have  been  recol- 
lected which  were  descriptive  of  his  future  cha- 
racter.    The   master,  the  Rev.   Mr.  Jones,   had 
some  remarkably  fine  pears  which  his  scholars 
had  often  wished  for;  but  the  attempt  to  gather 
them  was  in  their  opinion  so  hazardous,  that  no 
one  would  undertake  it:  when  Horatio,  on  seeing 
all  his  companions  staggered,  came  forward  and 
offered  to  brave  the  danger.    He  was  accordingly 
one  night  lowered  down  from  their  dormitory  by 
some  sheets  tied  together,  and  thus,  at  a  consi- 
derable risk,  secured  the  prize:  but  the  boldness 
of  the  deed  was  all  that  the  young  adventurer 
regarded;    for,    on    being   hauled   up    again,    he 
shared  the  pears  among  his  school-fellows,  with- 
out reserving  any  for  himself;  and  added,  I  only 
took  t/tem  because  every  other  boy  was  afraid.     Five 
guineas  were  offered  the  next  morning  to  discover 
the  plunderer:  but  young  Nelson  was  too  much 
beloved  for  any  boy  to  betray  him.     The  other 
anecdote  is  characteristic  of  that  inflexible  honour 


•which  marked  the  subsequent  actions  of  our  noble 
countryman.  When  the  brothers,  William  and 
Horatio,  were  once  going  to  school  on  their  po- 
nies, William,  who  did  not  much  like  the  journey, 
having  advanced  a  short  distance  from  his  father's 
gate  and  found  that  a  great  deal  of  snow  had 
fallen,  returned  with  his  brother  to  the  parsonage, 
and  informed  Mr.  Nelson,  '  That  the  snow  was 
too  deep  to  venture.'  If  that  be  indeed  the  case, 
replied  the  father,  you  certainly  shall  not  go ;  but 
make  another  attempt,  and  I  mil  leave  it  to  your 
honour.  If  the  road  should  be  found  dangerous,  you 
may  return:  yet  remember,  boys!  I  leave  it  to  your 
honour.  They  accordingly  proceeded ;  and  al- 
though various  difficulties  presented  themselves 
"which  offered  a  plausible  reason  for  their  return 
home,  Horatio  was  proof  against  them  all,  ex- 
claiming, We  have  no  excuse  !  Remember,  brother •, 
it  was  left  to  our  honour. 

II.  Having  quitted  the  school  of  North  Wai 
sham,  in  the  spring  of  1771,  Horatio  accom- 
panied his  father  to  London,  and  was  thence  sent 
to  join  the  Raisonable,  64  guns,  then  lying  in  the 
Medway.  On  his  arrival  in  the  stage  at  Chatham, 
he  was  put  down  with  the  other  passengers,  and  left 
to  find  his  way  alone  to  the  ship.  After  wandering 
about  without  being  able  to  find  the  means  of  get- 
ting on  board,  he  was  at  last  observed  by  an  officer; 
who,  happening  to  know  his  uncle,  took  Horatio 
home  and  gave  him  some  refreshment.  Captain 
Suckling  did  not  come  down  until  some  days  after 


his  nephew;  whose  health  had  been  much  impaired 
by  an  aguish  complaint,  and  who  was  an  utter 
stranger  to  every  one. 

The  Raisonable  did  not  long  remain  in  commis- 
sion, but  was  paid  off  on  the  amicable  adjustment 
of  our  dispute  with  the  Spaniards,  respecting  the 
harbour  of  Port  Egmont  in  the  Falkland  islands. 
During  the  month  of  May,  Captain  Suckling  was 
appointed  to  the  Triumph,  74  guns,  stationed  as  a 
guardship  in  the  Medway;  which  being  consi- 
dered as  too  inactive  a  life  for  his  nephew,  he 
was  sent  to  the  West  Indies  in  a  ship  belonging 
to  the  house  of  Hibbert,  Furrier,  and  Horton, 
under  the  command'  of  Mr.  John  Rathbone,  who 
had  served  as  master's  mate  with  Captain  Suck- 
ling, during  the  former  war,  in  the  Dreadnought. 
On  their  return  home,  Horatio  was  again  received 
by  his  uncle  on  board  the  Triumph  in  July,  1772. 
Whether  Mr.  Rathbone  had  wished  to  retain  his 
charge  in  the  merchant  service,  or  that  some 
of  his  mates  had  inadvertently  expressed  senti- 
ments reflecting  on  the  hardships  which  officers  en- 
dured in  the  king's  service,  b  is  now  impossible  to 

b  The  horror  which  Nelson  conceived  against  the  royal  navy 
may  be  contrasted  with  a  recent  instance  of  partiality  for  it,  in  the 
master  of  a  merchantman :  who  at  the  age  of  twenty-one  years  felt 
such  ardour  for  the  King's  service,  that  he  actually  gave  up  the 
lucrative  command  of  a  West-India  ship  for  the  station  of  mid- 
shipman, in  the  hopes  of  one  day  obtaining  a  higher  rank  in  the 
royal  navy.  The  insertion  of  his  name  would  wound  the  great 
modesty  of  his  character. 


6 

ascertain;  but  Nelson  in  his  Memoir c  says,  'If 
I  did  not  improve  in  my  education,  I  came  back 
a  practical  seaman  with  a  horror  of  the  royal 
navy,  and  with  a  saying  then  constant  with  the 
seamen,  Aft  the  most  honour,  forward  the  better 
man.  It  was  many  weeks  before  I  got  in  the 
least  reconciled  to  a  man  of  war.  However,  as 
iriy  ambition  was  to  be  a  Seaman,  it  was  always 
held  out  as  a  reward  that  if  I  attended  well  to 
navigation,  I  should  go  in  the  cutter  and  decked 
long-boat  which  were  attached  to  the  command- 
ing officer's  ship  at  Chatham.  Thus  by  degrees  I 
became  a  good  pilot.' 

Alino  III.  The  enterprise  of  Nelson  appears 

^Etat.  15.     ^0  have  been  first  called  forth,  on  hearing 

7  O 

of  the  Voyage  which  the  Earl  of  Sandwich  pro- 
posed to  his  Majesty  in  1773,  in  consequence  of  an 
application  from  the  Royal  Society.  The  conduct 
of  this  voyage  was  given  to  the  Hon.  Capt.  C.  J. 
Phipps, d  who  had  volunteered  his  services;  and 
the  Racehorse  and  Carcass  bombs,  as  being  the 
strongest  sort  of  vessels,  were  fitted  in  the  most 
complete  manner  for  the  undertaking.  Two 
masters  of  Greenlandmen  were  employed  as  pi- 
lots for  each  ship,  whose  ordinary  establishment 
was  departed  from  by  appointing  an  additional 

c  Quarto  edit,  pages  3  and  4. 

d  On  the  l6th  of  June,  1790,  he  was  raised  to  the  rank  of  a 
peer  of  Great  Britain  ;  and  dying  on  the  lOth  of  October,  1792, 
was  succeeded  by  his  brother,  the  Right  Hon.  Henry  Phipps,  now 
1 1809)  first  lord  of  the  Admiralty 


number  of  officers,   and  entering  effective  men 
instead  of  the  usual  number  of  boys;  which  cir- 
cumstance is  alluded  to  by  Nelson  in  his  Memoir. 
The  senior  officer's  ship  was  the  Racehorse;  and 
the  Carcass,  in  which  Nelson  sailed  as  the  cap- 
tain's  coxswain,  was  given   to  Skeffington  Lut- 
widge,  Esq.  now  Admiral  of  the  White.     From 
the  same  Memoir  is  also  extracted  the  following 
passage. — *  When  the  boats  were  fitted  out  to  quit 
the  two  ships  blocked  up  in  the  ice  (August6  1st 
and  7th)  I  exerted  myself  to  have  the  four-oared 
cutter  raised  upon,  which  was  given  me  with  twelve 
men;  and  I  prided  myself  in  fancying  I  could  na- 
vigate her  better  than  any  Other  boat  in  the  ship.' 
Mr.  d'Auvergne,  now  Captain  Philip  d'Auvergne, 
Prince  of  Bouillon,  who  with  Nelson  had  been  ap- 
pointed to  the  Expedition,  made  all  the  sketches 
that  were  taken  during  the  voyage  and  afterwards 
engraved;  he  was  also  charged  with  the  meteoro- 
logical register. 

There  is  an  anecdote  recollected  by  Admiral 
Lutwidge,  which  marked  the  filial  attention  of 
his  gallant  coxswain.  Among  the  gentlemen  on 
the  quarter-deck  of  the  Carcass,  who  were  not 
rated  midshipmen,  there  was,  besides  young  Nel- 
son, a  daring  shipmate  of  his  to  whom  he  had 
become  attached.  One  night,  during  the  mid- 
watch,  it  was  concerted  between  them  that  thev 

•/ 

should  steal  together  from  the  ship,  and  endeavour 

e  Quarto  edit.  vol.  I.  page  4,  and  JO — 12, 
B  4 


8 

to  obtain  a  bear's  skin.  The  clearness  of  the  nights 
in  those  high  latitudes  rendered  the  accomplish- 
ment of  this  object  extremely  difficult:  they  how- 
ever seem  to  have  taken  advantage  of  the  haze  of 
an  approaching  fog,  and  thus  to  have  escaped 
unnoticed.  Nelson  in  high  spirits  led  the  way- 
over  the  frightful  chasms  in  the  ice,  armed  with 
a  rusty  musket.  It  was  not  however  long  before 
the  adventurers  were  missed  by  those  on  board; 
and,  as  the  fog  had  come  on  very  thick,  the 
anxiety  of  Captain  Lutwidge  and  his  officers  was 
very  great.  Between  three  and  four  in  the  morn- 
ing the  mist  somewhat  dispersed,  and  the  hunters 
were  discovered  at  a  considerable  distance,  attack- 
ing a  large  bear.  The  signal  was  instantly  made 
for  their  return;  but  it  was  in  vain  that  Nelson's 
companion  urged  him  to  obey  it.  He  was  at  this 
time  divided  by  a  chasm  in  the  ice  from  his  shaggy 
antagonist,  which  probably  saved  his  life;  for  the 
musket  had  flashed  in  the  pan,  and  their  ammuni- 
tion was  expended.  Never  mind,  exclaimed  Ho- 
ratio, do  but  let  me  get  a  blow  at  this  devil  with  the 
but  end  of  my  musket,  and  we  shall  have  him.  His 
companion  finding  that  entreaty  was  in  vain,  re- 
gained the  ship.  The  Captain,  seeing  the  young- 
man's  danger,  ordered  a  gun  to  be  fired f  to  terrify 
the  enraged  animal :  This  had  the  desired  effect; 
but  Nelson  was  obliged  to  return  without  his  bear, 

f  See  in  quarto  edit.  vol.  I.  page  6,  an  engraving  of  this  scene 
ijom  a  de.ign  bj  R.  Westall,  Esq.  II.  A. 


9 

somewhat  agitated  with  the  apprehension  of  the 
consequence  of  this  adventure.  Captain  Lutwidge, 
though  he  could  not  but  admire  so  daring  a  dis- 
position, reprimanded  him  rather  sternly  for  such 
rashness,  and  for  conduct  so  unworthy  of  the  situ- 
ation he  occupied;  and  desired  to  know  what  mo- 
tive he  could  have  for  hunting  a  Bear?  The  being 
thought  by  his  Captain  to  have  acted  in  a  manner 
unworthy  of  his  situation,  made  a  deep  impression 
on  the  high  minded  coxswain;  who  pouting  his 
lip,  as  he  was  wont  to  do  when  agitated,  replied, 
*  Sir,  I  wished  to  kill  the  bear,  that  I  might  carry 
its  skin  to  my  Father.' 

On  the  return  of  the  Racehorse  and  Carcass 
to  England,  they  were  paid  off  Oct.  15,  1773; 
when  Mr.  Nelson  was  soon  recommended  by  his 
uncle  to  Captain  Farmer,  of  the  Sea-horse,  20 
guns;  attached  to  the  squadron8  destined  for  the 
East  Indies,  under  the  command  of  Admiral  Sir 
Edward  Hughes,  with  his  flag  on  board  the  Salis- 
bury, 50  guns,  Captain  George  Robinson  Walters. 
In  the  Seahorse,  Nelson  found  a  sincere  friend  in 
the  master,  the  present  Captain  Sur  ridge;  and 
commenced  an  intimacy  with  some  of  the  most 
valuable  of  his  professional  connexions.  Previous 
to  the  sailing  of  the  squadron,  he  formed  his  first 
acquaintance  with  a  young  gentleman  on  board 

g  The  other  ships  consisted  of  the  Coventry,  28  guns,  Captain 
B.  Marlow;  Dolphin,  24  guns,  Sir  John  Clcrke,  Knt. ;  Swallow,, 
16  guns,  Captaia  Jamas  Pi^ot. 


10 

theSalisbury,tnepresent  Admiral  Sir  Charles  Pole; 
and  afterwards  became  acquainted  during  the 
voyage,  and  their  continuance  in  the  East  Indies, 
with  the  late  Sir  Thomas  Troubridge,  Captain 
B.  Hallowcll,  Captain  Thomas  Bertie  then  named 
Hoare,  and  several  other  naval  officers. 

Nelson  was  stationed  in  the  foretop  of  the  Sea- 
horse at  watch  and  watch,  as  it  is  termed;  and  his 
exemplary  conduct  whilst  on  that  duty,  soon  at- 
tracted the  regard  of  his  friend  the  master  of  the 
ship,  in  whose  watch  he  was.  This  officer  perceiv- 
ing in  the  course  of  a  long  voyage  that  the  young 
man  was  extremely  attentive  to  his  duty,  and 
obedient  to  his  superiors,  recommended  him  to 
the  particular  notice  of  Captain  Farmer;  who 
then  placed  him  on  the  quarter-deck,  and  rated 
him  as  midshipman.  After  he  had  thus  obtained 
the  first  step  to  rank11  as  an  officer  in  the  British 
navy,  he  was  frequently  in  fine  weather  indulged 
by  the  officer  of  the  watch  to  tack  the  ship,  which 
he  performed  like  a  thorough  seaman,  and  gave 
his  orders  with  all  the  authority  of  a  lieutenant. 
His  appearance  at  this  time,  according  to  the  re- 
port of  Captain  Surridge,  was  that  of  a  boy  with 
a  florid  countenance,  rather  stout  and  athletic; 
but  unfortunately,  when  he  had  been  about  eigh- 

h  It  is  a  singular  fact,  and  which  deserves  the  attention  of  our 
government,  that  Midshipmen  possess  only  a  nominal  rank  in  the 
service  :  as  they  receive  no  Commission  they  may  be  disrated  at 
the  pleasure  of  a  Captain,  and  be  made  to  serve  before  the  mast. 


11 

teen  months  in  India,  he  caught  a  malignant  dis- 
order which  nearly  baffled  the  power  of  medicine. 
He  was  thus  not  only  reduced  to  a  mere  skeleton, 
but  for  some  time  entirely  lost  the  use  of  his  limbs; 
and  if  it  had  not  been,  as  he  acknowledges,  for  the 
kindness  of  Captain  Pigot,  who  brought  him  home 
in  the  Dolphin,  i  his  spirit  would  have  been  thus 
early  extinguished.  During  his  continuance  in 
the  Seahorse,  no  person  of  his  years  ever  paid 
more  attention  to  the  duties  of  his  profession: 
'His  ardent  ambition,'  adds  Captain  Surridge, 
'  was  to  make  himself  thoroughly  acquainted  with 
the  most  minute  part  of  a  seaman's  duty,' 

Duringt  their  return  to  England,  the  spirits  of 
young  Nelson,  which  had  been  lowered  by  this  se- 
vere illness,  were  frequently  much  depressed.    The 
busy  and  interesting  scene  he  had  been  obliged 
to  forego,  and  the  remembrance  of  friends  whom 
he  had  left,  altogether  weighed  so  heavily  on  his 
mind,  as  quite  to  unman  him :   when  one  evening 
the  following  singular  train  of  thought  occurred, 
as  he  related  it  long  afterwards  to  Mr.  R.  W. 
Spencer,  during  their  walks  amidst  the  romantic 
scenery  of  Downton  Castle,  the  seat  of  Mr.  Knight. 
'  I  felt  impressed  with  an  idea  that  I  should  never 
rise  in  my  profession.     My  mind  was  staggered 
with  a  view  of  the  difficulties  I  had  to  surmount, 
and  the  little  interest  I  possessed.     I  could  dis- 
cover no  means  of  reaching  the  object  of  my  am- 

'  The  Dolphin  sailed  from  the  East  Indies  in  1 776. 


12 

bition.  After  a  long  and  gloomy  reverie,  in  which 
I  almost  wished  myself  overboard,  a  sudden  glow 
of  patriotism  was  kindled  within  me  and  pre- 
sented my  King  and  Country  as  my  patron :  My 
mind  exulted  in  the  idea. — 'Well  then/  I  ex- 
claimed, '  I  will  be  a  Hero,  and  confiding  in  Pro- 
vidence I  will  brave  every  clanger.'  The  spirit 
of  Nelson  revived;  and  from  that  hour,  in  his 
mind's  eye,  as  he  often  declared  to  Capt.  Hardy, 
a  radiant  orb  was' suspended  which  urged  him 
onward  to  renown. 

The  humane  attention  of  Captain  Pigot,  and 
the  change  of  climate,  were  of  the  greatest  ser- 
vice to  the  relaxed  constitution  of  his  friend. 
During  his  absence  from  England,  Captain  Suck- 
ling had  succeeded  Sir  Hugh  Palliser  as  comp- 
troller of  the  navy  in  April  1775;  an  event  which 
was  favourable  to  the  future  prospects  of  his 
nephew.  The  Dolphin  was  paid  off  at  Wool- 
wich on  the  24th  of  September  177G;  and  Nelson 
was  immediately  appointed  by  Admiral  Sir  James 
Dousrlas,  to  act  as  fourth  lieutenant  of  the  Wor- 

O          ' 

cester,  64  guns,  Captain  Mark  Robinson,  k  then 
on  the  point  of  sailing  with  a  convoy  to  Gibral- 
tar. The  testimony  which  that  officer  gave  to  his 
skill  and  judgment,  previous  to  his  obtaining  a 
confirmation  of  the  rank  of  lieutenant,  is  thus 

k-  The  first  ship  which  this  officer  commanded,  on  being  ad- 
vanced to  post  rank,  August  13, 1760,  was  the  Vanguard;  the  first 
ship  in  which  Nelson  served  as  an  Admiral,  with  the  command  of 


13 

mentioned  by  him  in  his  Memoir. ' — '  In  this 
ship  I  was  at  sea  with  Convoys  till  April  2,  1777, 
and  in  very  bad  weather.  But  although  my  age 
might  have  been  a  sufficient  cause  for  not  intrust- 
ing me  with  the  charge  of  a  watch,  yet  Captain 
Robinson  used  to  say,  He  felt  as  easy  when  I  was 
upon  deck,  as  any  officer  in  the  ship.'  On  his  arrival 
at  Gibraltar  with  the  convoy,  he  first  beheld  that 
sea  which  was  destined  to  be  the  principal  theatre 
of  his  future  glory;  and  from  the  Worcester,  soon 
after  his  return  to  England,  he  was  confirmed  in 
his  rank  as  lieutenant. 

Anno  IV.  The  day  on  which  Nelson  passed 

-ffitat.  19.  jjjg  examination  was  the  8th  of  April,  1777. 
The  following  is  all  that  has  been  remembered  by 
his  brother.  On  being  shewn  into  the  room,  he 
at  first  appeared  somewhat  alarmed.  At  the  head 
of  the  table  sat  his  uncle  Maurice,  as  Comptroller 
of  the  navy,  who  had  purposely  concealed  his  re- 
lationship from  the  examining  captains.  When 
his  nephew  had  recovered  from  his  confusion,  his 
answers  were  prompt  and  satisfactory,  and  indi- 
cated the  talents  he  so  eminently  possessed.  The 
examination  ended  in  a  manner  very  honourable 
to  him:  Upon  which  his  uncle  immediately  threw 
off  his  reserve,  and  rising  from  his  seat  intro- 
duced his  nephew.  The  examining  captains  ex- 
pressed their  surprise  at  his  not  having  informed 
them  of  this  before:  '  No,'  replied  the  indepen- 

1  Quarto  edit.  vol.  I-  page  5. 


14 

dent  Comptroller,  c  I  did  not  wish  theyounker  to 
be  favoured:  I  felt  convinced  that  he  would  pass 
a  good  examination,  and  you  see,  gentlemen,  I 
have  not  been  disappointed. '  The  next  day,  April 
the  9th,  Nelson  received  his  commission  as  second 
lieutenant  of  the  Lowestoffe  frigate,  32  guns,  Cap- 
tain William  Locker,  then  fitting  out  at  Sheerness 
for  Jamaica;  which  not  only  advanced  him  to  the 
second  step  in  his  profession,  but  was  the  means 
of  introducing  him  to  one  of  his  earliest  and  most 
valuable  friends. 

As  the  first  lieutenant  of  the  Lowestoffe  was 
absent  on  leave,  Nelson  was  soon  ordered  to  the 
rendezvous  for  pressed  men,  which  at  that  time 
was  opened  near  the  Tower;  there  not  being  any 
vessel  lying  in  the  river  to  receive  them.  During 
this  service  he  commenced  his  acquaintance  and 
uninterrupted  friendship  with  the  present  Lieute- 
nant Bromwich,  at  that  time  a  midshipman,  who 
•  afterwards  served  under  him  for  many  years.  This 
officer,  who  is  now  warden  m  of  the  dock-yard  at 
Portsmouth,  describes  Lieutenant  Nelson  as  being 
then  so  extremely  ill  and  weak;  that  one  cold 
night,  whilst  they  remained  on  duty  near  the 
Tower,  Mr.  Bromwich  was  obliged  to  take  him 
on  his  back,  and  carry  him  instantly  to  the  ren- 
dezvous; where  his  recovery  from  a  fainting  fit 
was  for  a  long  time  uncertain. 

m  A  place  which  he  obtained  through  the  interest  of  his  noble 
friend. 


15 

The  Lowestoffe  sailed  from  Spithead  for  the 
Jamaica  station,  on  the  16th  of  May,  1777,  with 
the  Grasshopper  sloop  of  war,  Captain  Truscott, 
to  reinforce  the  squadron  under  Vice  Admiral 
Clarke  Gayton,  an  old  and  gallant  officer,  who 
had  been  appointed  lieutenant  in  1727,  when  Gib- 
raltar was  attacked  by  the  Spaniards.  On  the  4th 
of  July,  the  Lowestoffe,  Grasshopper,  and  a  con- 
voy of  eighteen  sail  of  merchantmen,  anchored  in 
Carlisle  bay,  Barbadoes.  On  the  7th  the  Lowe- 
stoffe sailed  for  Jamaica,  and  arrived  on  the  19th 
in  Port  Royal  harbour.  The  depredations  of  the 
Americans,  and  our  inveterate  enemy  the  French 
with  American  commissions,  called  at  that  time 
for  all  the  activity  of  the  squadron,  and  its  cruisers 
were  extremely  alert.  Much  credit  had  been  re- 
cently acquired  by  a  Mr.  Jordan,  an  acting  lieu- 
tenant, whom  the  admiral  had  appointed  to  the 
Racehorse  schooner  of  10  guns,  for  his  action 
with  a  rebel  privateer  called  the  Guest,  16  guns 
and  16  swivels  ;  which,  after  a  contest  of  upwards 
of  two  hours,  had  been  resolutely  carried  by  board- 
ing. This  circumstance,  and  the  continued  insults 
of  our  enemies,  were  not  lost  on  the  zealous  emu- 
lation of  Nelson,  and  rendered  even  a  frigate  not 
sufficiently  active  for  the  purposes  of  his  ambition. 
He  therefore  got  repeatedly  appointed  to  the  com- 
mand of  one  of  the  Lowestoffe's  tenders;  and  a 
similar  situation  was  also  given  to  one  of  Captain 
Locker's  midshipmen,  the  present  Captain  Cunr 


16 

ningham,  now  commissioner  of  the  dockyard  at 
Woolwich 

It  was  the  happy  talent  of  Lieutenant  Nelson, 
throughout  every  period  of  his  eventful  life,  to 
gain  the  love  and  confidence  both  of  his  superiors 
and  inferiors ;  and  there  cannot  be  a  greater  proof 
of  this,  than  the  following  letter n  which  he  ad- 
dressed, during  one  of  their  cruises,  to  Captain 
Locker ;  whose  state  of  health  was  more  preca- 
rious than  his  own. 

Lowestoffe,  at  sea, 
Aug.  12,  1777- 

**  MY  MOST  WORTHY  FRIEND, 

'  I  AM  exceedingly  obliged  to  you  for 
the  good  opinion  you  entertain  of  me,  and  w\\\ 
do  my  utmost  that  you  may  have  no  occasion  to 
change  it.  I  hope  God  Almighty  will  be  pleased 
to  spare  your  life,  for  your  own  sake,  and  that  of 
your  family:  but  should  any  thing  happen  to  you 
(which  I  sincerely  pray  to  God  may  not),  you 
may  be  assured  that  nothing  shall  be  wanting  on 
my  part  for  the  taking  care  of  your  effects,  and 
delivering  safe  to  Mrs.  Locker  such  of  them  as 
may  be  thought  proper  not  to  be  disposed  of. 
You  mentioned  the  word  Consolation  in  your 
letter— I  shall  have  a  very  great  one,  when  I 


n  Captain  Locker's  collection  of  letters,  belonging  to  his  son, 
Edward  Ha\vke  Locker,  Esq.  now  secretary  to  Admiral  Sir  Ed- 
ward Pellew,  Bart.  Commander  in  Chief  in  the  East  Indies. 


think  I  have  served  faithfully  the  best  of  friends, 
and  the  most  amiable  of  women. 

'  All  the  services  I  can  render  to  your  family, 
you  may  be  assured  shall  be  done,  and  shall  never 
end  but  with  my  life;  and  may  God  Almighty  of 
his  great  goodness  keep,  bless,  and  preserve  you 
and  your  family,  is  the  most  fervent  prayer  of 
your  faithful  servant, 

'  HORATIO  NELSON.' 

On  the  26'th  of  August,  the  Lowestoffe,  and 
Gayton  tender,  took  an  American  sloop  laden 
with  rice,  and  returned  to  Port  Royal  on  the  1st 
of  October  to  refit;  whence  they  again  sailed  the 
6th  of  November,  on  a  second  cruise,  and  on  the 
20th,  between  Cape  Maize  and  Cape  Nichola, 
they  took0  the  American  letter  of  marque. 

In  the  anecdote  which  Nelson  has  given  of  him- 
self in  his  Memoir,  when  sent  to  board  this  vessel, 
his  memory  seems  in  a  slight  degree  to  have  failed 
him.  This  error  has  been  corrected  through  the 
information  of  Lieutenant  Bromwich,  who,  with 
the  present  Captain  Thomas  Dundas,  was  at  that 
time  a  midshipman  on  board  the  Lowestoffe. 
The  first  lieutenant  alluded  to,  now  an  admiral 
on  the  retired  list,  never  left  the  ship.  On  receiv- 
ing his  Captain's  orders  to  board  the  prize,  he 
went  below  to  put  ou  his  hanger;  the  hanger 

0  See  the  Memoir,  (quarto  edit.)  and  an  engraving  representing 
this  scene,  pnge  16,  from  a  painting  by  B.  West-all,  Esq.  R.  A. 


18 

was  mislaid,  and  could  not  immediately  be  found. 
In  the  meantime  Captain  Locker  came  on  deck, 
extremely  anxious  that  the  prize  should  be  in- 
stantly taken  in  charge,  as  he  apprehended  it 
must  otherwise  founder.  Perceiving,  to  his  asto- 
nishment, that  the  Lowestoffe's  boat  was  still 
alongside  and  in  danger  of  being  every  moment 
swamped,  from  the  heavy  sea  that  \vas  running, 
he  exclaimed,  Have  I  no  officer  in  the  ship  who 
will  board  the  prize?  Lieutenant  Nelson,  with 
his  usual  goodness  of  heart,  still  waited  for  the 
return  of  his  superior  officer;  but,  on  hearing 
the  Master  volunteer  his  services,  immediately 
hastened  to  the  gangway,  and,  getting  into  the 
boat,  said,  It  is  my  turn  now,  and  if  I  come 
back  it  is  yours.  The  American  vessel  was  so 
completely  water-logged,  from  having  carried  an 
heavy  press  of  sail,  that  Nelson's  boat  went  in  on 
deck  and  out  again  with  the  scud.  When  he  at 
length  got  on  board,  he  was  long  separated  from 
the  Lowestoffe  by  the  gale;  and  for  some  time 
Captain  Locker  felt  very  uneasy  for  his  safety. 

On  the  9th  of  December,  1777,  the  Lowestoffe 
sailed  a  second  time  from  Port  Royal,  on  a  cruise 
between  the  northern  side  of  Hispaniola  and  the 
Bahama  Keys.  During  this  cruise  Lieutenant 
Nelson  took  the  command  of  another  tender 
which  had  been  captured  by  the  Lowestoffe,  and 
was  called  the  little  Lucy  after  a  daughter  of 
Captain  Locker.  They  cruised  together  until 
the  31st  of  the  month,  when  the  Lowestoffe  re- 


19 

turned  to  Port  Royal  to  heave  down  and  new 
sheath  her  bottom;  a  custom  which  was  then 
yearly  observed  by  every  ship  on  that  station. 
Whilst  this  was  doing,  Lieutenant  Nelson  re- 
mained at  sea  in  the  little  Lucy;  and  on  the  9th 
of  February,  when  off  the  West  Corcos,  sent  some 
account  to  Captain  Locker  of  a  prize  which  he 
had  taken.' 

Admiral  Sir  Peter  Parker  having  been  ap- 
pointed to  succeed  Admiral  Gayton,  arrived  at 
Port  Royal  March  3,  1778.  On  the  6th  of  May- 
following,  the  Lowestoffe  sailed  on  her  third 
cruise,  and  with  the  Lucy  tender  again  in  com- 
pany. On  the  27th  they  chased  a  strange  ship 
and  schooner,  in  the  Corcos  passage;  and,  OH 
coming  up,  they  spoke  the  former  and  found  her 
to  be  the  Inconstant  French  frigate,  commanded 
by  the  Chevalier  de  Cuverville,  who  seemed  to  be 
convoying  an  American  schooner;  as  was  then  the 
custom  with  the  French  though  at  peace  with 
England.  Lieutenant  Nelson  immediately  deter- 
mined to  examine  the  schooner,  though  actually 
under  the  very  muzzle  of  the  frigate's  guns,  and 
accordingly  stood  with  the  little  Lucy  ahead  of 
the  Lowestoffe.  A  volley  of  small  arms  was  sud- 
denly poured  by  the  frigate  into  the  tender,  when 
Captain  Locker  threw  out  her  signal  to  come 
under  the  Lowestoffe's  stern:  upon  which  Nel- 
son hoisted  out  his  boat,  and  eagerly  asked  his 
captain,  If  it  would  not  be  advisable  to  bring 
the  Tender's  men  on  board,  as  a  brush  with  the 

c  2 


20 

Inconstant  seemed  inevitable. — '  At  all  events,' 
replied  Captain  Locker,  *  I  am  determined  to 
examine  the  schooner.'  The  Chevalier,  per- 
ceiving they  were  resolutely  bent  on  doing  thii, 
refrained  from  any  further  resistance.  The 
schooner  was  accordingly  examined,  and  proved 
to  be  French  property. 

On  the  17th  of  June  in  the  same  year,  1778, 
despatches  were  brought  out  in  the  Bristol  to 
Captain  Locker;  in  consequence  of  which  Lieu- 
tenant Nelson  and  his  men  were  removed  from 
the  tender  into  the  Lowestoffe,  and  on  the  24th 
they  returned  to  Port  Royal.  The  increasing  ill 
health  of  Captain  Locker  afforded  but  a  faint 
hope,  that  he  would  be  able  to  enjoy  the  benefit 
of  a  French  war  in  the  West-Indies. 

Through  the  zealous  friendship  of  this  officer, 
who  loved  Nelson  like  one  of  his  own  children, 
the  patronage  of  Admiral  Sir  Peter  Parker p  had 
been  secured,  on  his  succeeding  Admiral  Gayton. 
At  the  request  of  Captain  Locker,  Lieutenant 
Nelson  was  now  appointed  third  of  the  (lag  ship 
the  Bristol;  and  was  succeeded  in  the  Lowestoffe 
by  Lieutenant  Cuthbert  Collingwood,  from  the 
Hornet  sloop.  The  patronage  of  so  valuable  a 
friend  as  the  Commander  in  chief,  was  at  that  time 
of  the  greatest  importance  to  Lieutenant  Nelson; 
who  in  the  month  of  July  had  lost  his  uncle,  Cap- 
tain Maurice  Suckling.  The  zealous  and  active 

P  Sir  Peter  Parker,  created  a  baronet  in  1/82,  succeeded  Earl 
How  in  1700  as  Admiral  of  the  Fle«t. 


21 

disposition  of  Nelson  soon  recommended  him  to 
the  particular  notice  of  the  worthy  admiral,  at 
whose  house  he  became1  a  welcome  guest.  In 
Lady  Parker  he  found  a  second  mother ;  and  his 
merit  soon  advanced  him  to  be  first  lieutenant  of 
the  flag  ship.  On  the  5th  of  September,  the 
Bristol,  Captain  Caulfield,  in  company  with  the 
Lowestoffe,  Captain  Locker,  and  some  other 
ships,  sailed  from  Port  Royal  and  cruised  off 
Cape  Francois  until  the  17th  of  October.  Dur- 
ing this  cruise  the  squadron  took  seventeen  sail 
of  French  St.  Domingo  ships.  On  the  8th  of 
December,  1778,  Nelson  terminated  his  services, 
as  Lieutenant,  on  board  the  flag  ship  of  Sir  Peter 
Parker,  and  was  again  succeeded  by  Lieutenant 
Collingwood.11 

Captain  Nelson's  promotion  to  the  rank  of 
Commander,  took  place  at  this  time  on  his  being 
appointed  to  the  Badger  brig;  and  as  Captain 
Locker  did  not  leave  Jamaica  for  England,  on 
account  of  his  health,  until  the  ensuing  year, 
1779,  be  must  have  witnessed  the  rapid  success 
of  his  endeavours  to  serve  this  officer. 

Anno  V.  The  personal  appearance  of  Captain 

;£tat.  zi.     Nelson  at  this  period  of  his  life,  owing 
to  his  delicate  health  and  figure,  was  far  from  ex 

i  The  present  Admiral  Lord  Collingwood.  Lieutenants  Mac- 
namara,  Nelson,  and  Collingwood,  were  all  made  Commanders 
out  of  the  Bristol  within  seven  or  eight  months  of  each  other. 
Captain  Macnaraara,  who  afterwards  went  into  France  with 
Captain  Nelson,  died  an  Admiral  about  five  years  since. 

c  3 


22 

pressing  the  greatness  of  his  intellectual  powers. 
From  his  earliest  years,  like  Cleomenes  the  hero 
of  Sparta,  he  had  been  enamoured  of  glory,  and 
had  possessed  a  greatness  of  mind;  Nelson  pre- 
served also  a  similar  temperance  and  simplicity  of 
manners:  Nature,  as  Plutarch  adds  of  the  noble 
Spartan,  had  given  a  spurr  to  his  mind,  which 
rendered  him  impetuous  in  the  pursuit  of  what- 
ever he  deemed  honourable.  The  demeanour  of 
this  extraordinary  young  man  was  entirely  the 
demeanour  of  a  British  seaman:  When  the  ener- 
gies of  his  mind  were  not  called  forth  by  some 
object  of  duty,  or  professional  interest,  he  seemed 
to  retire  within  himself  and  to  care  but  little  for 
the  refined  courtesies  of  polished  life.  In  his 
dress  he  had  all  the  cleanliness  of  an  Englishman, 
though  his  manner  of  wearing  it  gave  him  an  air 
of  negligence;  and  yet  his  general  address  and 
conversation,  when  he  wished  to  please,  even  at 
this  time  possessed  a  charnrthat  was  irresistible. 
At  the  time  of  Nelson's  appointment  to  the 
LowestofTe,  and  the  confirmation  of  his  rank  as 
lieutenant,  Captain  Maurice  Suckling  had  drawn 
up  for  the  use  of  his  nephew,  some  admirable  in- 
structions relative  to  his  conduct  and  professional 
duties.  This  interesting  manuscript,  of  which 
only  a  very  inconsiderable  part  has  been  recover- 
ed, was  seen  in  the  Lowestoffe  by  Mr.  Bromwich, 


ft  ta'/xa  fy  Q'jirzi  if^crs'/.sn'o,  K&I  [t,efa. 
7f§os  fo  $ouyo[ji,Eyw  xei  KSC'M-/.        Plutarchi  Cleomenes. 


23 

who  also  remembers  the  following  introductory 
passage : 

'  My  clear  Horatio,  Pay  erery  respect  to  your 
superior  officers,  as  you  shall  wish  to  receive 
respect  yourself.' 

His  Father,  the  Rev.  Edmund  Nelson,  had  also 
early  impressed  the  mind  of  his  son,  as  may  be  seen 
from  the  first  letter  to  Captain  Locker,  with  a 
high  sense  of  an  overruling  Providence,  and  of 
the  sublime  principles  of  Christianity.  This 
sense,  preserved  by  an  affectionate  correspond- 
ence between  the  father  and  his  gallant  son,  laid 
the  foundation  of  Nelson's  character  and  fame  on 
a  wide  and  solid  basis,  and  gave  peculiar  value  to 
his  Friendship,  his  Valour,  and  his  Patriotism. 


END  OF  BOOK  THE  FIRST. 


BOOK    II. 
From  1778  to  1797. 

I.  THE  eventful  Period,  on  which  we  are  now 
entering,  requires  to  be  elucidated  by  every 
document  that  may  throw  light  on  those  occur- 
rences, which  have  had  such  an  effect  on  the 
general  aspect  of  Europe.  The  connexion  of 
our  American  colonies  with  the  mother  Country, 
was  at  length  destroyed  by  the  assistance  and 
machinations  of  France,  insidiously  conducted 
by  her  marine  minister,  M.  de  Sartine:  Who 
thus  unwarily  prepared  the  misfortunes  and  ruin 
of  his  own  monarch  ;  and  was,  in  great  mea- 
sure, the  cause  of  that  political  earthquake, 
which  has  since  destroyed  the  independence  of 
nations,  and  shaken  the  pillars  of  the  civilized 
world. 

.The  War  commenced  without  any  public  offi- 
cial declaration  from  either  government;  except 
that,  on  the  18th  of  March,  (the  day  after  the 
French  declaration  of  a  Treaty  of  commerce  with 
the  Americans  had  been  presented  to  the  house 
of  Commons,)  the  French  had  issued  an  order 
to  seize  all  British  ships  that  were  in  their  ports; 
and  on  the  27th,  an  embargo  had  been  laid  by 
the  English  ministry  on  French  vessels,  Rear 


25 

Admiral  Duff  was  sent  to  the  Mediterranean, 
Hear  Admiral  Barring-ton  to  the  Leeward  Islands, 
and  Vice  Admiral  Byron,  on  Lord  Howe's  de- 
siring to  be  recalled  from  America,  was  ap- 
pointed to  succeed  him  on  that  station.  Such 
was  the  general  state  of  Naval  Affairs,  when  the 
second  book  of  this  work  commences. 

It  has  been  already  mentioned,  that  Captain 
Maurice  Suckling  died  in  the  month  of  July, 
1778,-  during  the  time  his  nephew  had  been  thus 
actively  employed  as  a  lieutenant  in  the  West 
Indies.  Captain  Suckling  for  three  weeks  pre- 
vious to  his  death,  had  been  attended  by  Nelson's 
father,  and  their  conversation  one  day  turned 
upon  the  future  prospects  of  their  relation  :  *  At 
all  events,'  said  Captain  Suckling,  '  we  have 
made  the  young  man  a  Lieutenant,  and  he  may 
now  fight  his  way  along.  It  was  my  intention 
to  have  left  him  equally  with  the  rest  of  your 
children,  five  hundred  pounds  ;  but  I  will  send 
for  my  lawyer  and  do  something  more  for  poor 
Horace.  Do  not  fear,  brother;  your  son  will 
never  want  friends. '—Soon  after  this,  Captain 
Suckling  experienced  so  severe  a  relapse,  as  to 
render  it  impossible  for  him  to  execute  his  in- 
tentions, which  were  soon  entirely  frustrated  by 
death.  His  Sword  which  Nelson  afterwards  so 
much  valued,  became  the  property  of  his  liberal 
friend,  Mr.  William  Suckling,  of  the  Custom- 
house, and  was  by  him  presented  to  Captain  Nel- 
son on  his  return  to  England.  The  history  of  this 


26 

sword  is  curious,  but  very  difficult  to  ascertain. 
It  was  the  opinion  of  a  person,  now  dead,  who 
was  well  acquainted  with  the  Walpole  family, 
that  this  Sword  had  originally  belonged  to  the 
gallant  Galfridus  Walpole;  who,  on  the  26th  of 
March,  1711,  lost  his  right  arm  in  the  Mediter- 
ranean, when  commanding  the  Lion  of  Go  guns, 
in  an  Action  with  four  French  ships,  each  mount- 
ing 60  guns.  On  marrying  a  Walpole,  Captain 
Maurice  Suckling  is  thought  to  have  received 
this  Sword.  His  gallant  nephew  from  the  time 
he  possessed  it,  wore  it  constantly  when  -on  ser- 
vice, and  considered  it  as  an  eld  and  faithful 
servant,  that  would  never  fail  to  support  him  in 
battle.  ,  • 

Captain  Nelson  remained  so  short  a  time  as 
Commander  in  the  Badger  brig,  to  which  he 
had  been  appointed  at  the  beginning  of  Decem- 
ber, 1778,  that  his  name  was  never  inserted  in  any 
of  the  printed  lists.  His  services  from  that  pro- 
motion, to  his  being  made  post  into  the  Hinchin- 
brook,  on  the  llth  of  June,  1779,  were  confined 
at  first,  as  he  informs  us  in  his  Memoir,  to  the 
Mosquito  shore,  and  the  bay  of  Honduras ; 
whence  he  returned  with  the  unanimous  thanks 
of  the  settlers.  He  was  afterwards  employed  in 
protecting  the  northern  side  of  Jamaica  from 
the  depredations  of  privateers ;  and  the  follow- 
ing letters  to  Captain  Locker,  give  some  account 
of  the  proceedings  of  the  Badger,  whilst  on  that 
station. 


27" 

The  first, '  in  which  mention  is  made  of  a 
prize  that  had  been  taken  by  the  Badger,  is 
dated  off  the  N.  E.  end  of  Jamaica,  April  SO, 
1779-  *  I  hope,  my  dear  Sir,  with  all  my  heart, 
you  are  much  better  than  when  I  left  you,  and 
that  you  will  not  be  obliged  to  go  home  on  ac- 
count of  your  health.  I  sincerely  wish  it  was 
in  my  power  to  shew  some  small  return,  for  the 
very  many  favours  I  have  received ;  but  I  am 
sure  you  do  not  think  me  ungrateful.  If  you 
come  on  the  north  side  and  I  hear  of  it,  I  will 
come  in.  I  know  you  will  be  pleased  with  this 
little  earnest  of  success;  but  we  have  had  a  good 
deal  of  plague  with  her,  and  were  two  days  before 
we  could  find  the  French  papers :  at  last  we  found 
them  in  an  old  shoe.' 

On  his  return  from  this  Cruise,  being  in  want 
of  men,  lie  involved  himself  in  some  perplexity, 
by  pressing  a  few  hands  from  a  vessel  called  the 
Amity  Hall ;  and  as  this  had  given  uneasiness  to 
his  friend,  Captain  Locker,  it  produced  the  fol- 
lowing explanation; {  '  I  am  very  sorry,  my  dear 
Sir,  that  I  made  you  so  uneasy  about  the  men 
pressed  from  the  Amity  Hall;  but  I  will  relate 
the  story,  in  particular  for  Mr.  Taylor's  satisfac- 
tion, whom  I  should  be  very  sorry  to  disoblige, 
as  he  has  been  so  exceedingly  civil  to  me;  and 
also  upon  your  account.  '  When  I  first  saw  the 

•  Captain  Locker's  collection  of  letters. 
1  Ibid.  Badger,  May  13,  1779. 


28 

ships  in  Port  Antonio,  I  took  them  for  part  of  the 
Cork  tleet;  and  sent  the  boat  for  men,  with  orders 
not  to  press  from  homeward-bound  ships:  They 
went  on  board  two,  and  did  not  meddle  with  their 
people ;  but  thirty-five  men  on  board  the  Amity 
Hall  tempted  them  to  bring  five.  I  was  not 
pleased  when  they  were  brought  on  board,  and 
came  into  port  on  purpose  to  return  them ;  for  I 
had  not  a  thought  of  keeping  any  of  them.  The 
Master  came  on  board  in  a  most  impertinent  man- 
ner, and,  with  very  abusive  language,  told  me  he 
should  take  the  law. — I  cannot  say  but  I  was  warm 
to  be  talked  to  in  such  a  manner.  However,  I 
immediately  returned  two  men  and  a  neutral; 
but  told  him  1  should  keep  the  other  two,  for  his 
improper  behaviour:  this  is  all  the  matter.  If 
you  tell  the  story,  I  beg  you  will  mention,  that 
the  Master  forgot  to  advertise,  that  he  had  on 
board  two  deserters  from  the  Badger.  I  am 
afraid  the  Admiral  has  got  the  wrong  end  of  the 
story:  if  you  think  proper,  mention  the  truth.  I 
see  you  are  quite  settled  about  going  home, 
which  in  all  probability  may  happen  before  you 
can  hear  from  me  again;  but  I  shall  always  write 
to  you  in  England.  The  friendship  you  have 
shewn  me,  I  shall  never  forget;  and  though  I 
Jose  my  best  friend  by  your  going,  I  would  not 
have  you  stay  a  day  longer  in  this  Country.  May 
health  and  happiness  attend  you.' 

His  humanity  and  presence  of  mind  were  soon 
after  this  particularly  noticed,  whilst  the  Badger 


29 

was  at  anchor  in  Montego  Bay,  Jamaica.  Early 
in  the  ensuing  month  of  June  1779,  his  Majesty's 
ship  Glasgow,  20  guns,  commanded  by  Captain 
Lloyd,  took  fire  soon  after  she  had  come  to  an 
anchor  in  the  same  bay.  Captain  Nelson  imme- 
diately manned  the  Badger's  boats,  and  forced  the 
crew  of  the  Glasgow  who  had  thrown  themselves 
into  the  sea,  to  return  to  tlieir  ship.  He  then 
directed  them  to  throw  their  powder  overboard, 
and  to  point  their  guns  upwards  :  Owing  to  this 
resolute  conduct,  no  lives,  except  that  of  the 
Master,  were  lost:  but  the  ship  was  burnt  to  the 
water's  edge. — On  tlie  7th  of  June,  he  sent  the 
following  account  of  what  had  passed  to  Captain 
Locker,  dated  off  St.  Anne's.  '  I  suppose,  before 
this,  you  have  heard  of  the  fate  of  the  poor  Glas- 
gow, indeed  it  was  a  most  shocking  sight;  and 
had  it  happened  half  an  hour  later,  in  all  proba- 
bility a  great  many  people  would  have  been  lost. 
She  anchored  at  half  past  three,  and  at  six  she 
was  in  flames,  o\ying  to  the  steward's  attempting 
to  steal  rum  out  of  the  after-hold.  Captain  Lloyd 
is  very  melancholy  indeed  on  the  occasion;  and 
I  sincerely  wish  I  was  at  Port  Royal  for  his  sake, 
and  that. of  the  ship's  company,  who  are  falling 
sick  very  fast  with  the  constant  rains  we  have 
had  since  we  left  Montego  Bay:  and  we  have  no 
place  on  board  the  Badger  to  shelter  such  a  num- 
ber of  men.  I  suppose  I  have  letters  at  Port 
Antonio  from  you,  but  I  have  not  been  there 
these  three  posts;  and  am  much  afraid  I  shall  be 


so 

obliged  to  go  round  the  west  end,  and  attempt 
the  south  side;  the  current  having  set  us  nine 
leagues  to  leeward  these  last  twenty-four  hours, 
although  we  have  had  favourable  winds.  I  beg 
you  will  remember  me  very  kindly  to  Mr.  Ross, 
and  Captain  Deane,  who  I  hope  is  got  well.  May 
health  and  happiness  attend  you.' 

It  was  in  the  year  1779,  and  probably  about  this 
time,  that  Captain  Nelson  first  became  acquainted 
with  that  enterprising  and  gallant  Seaman,  the 
honourable  Captain- William  Cornwallis;  who  has 
thus  retraced  the  origin  of  their  acquaintance. 
"  His  attention,  to  me  was,  I  believe,  in  conse- 
quence of  the  late  Captain  Walter  Young,  who 
might  perhaps  have  said  something  in  my  favour 
to  Nelson,  when  a  lad :  Captain  Young  had  for- 
merly served  with  Captain  Suckling,  and  was 
afterwards  five  years  a  Lieutenant  with  me  in 
the  Guadaloupe;  he  was  well  known  to  be  a  most 
excellent  officer,  and  I  always  found  him  a  most 
honourable  and  disinterested  man.  From  his  ad- 
vice and  instruction,  it  is  probable  that  Nelson 
early  learnt  to  despise  mercenary  objects,  and  to 
turn  his  thoughts  wholly  to  glorious  deeds,  in 
which  he  succeeded  beyond  all  example." 

II.  In  about  a  twelvemonth  after  the.  com- 
mencement of  hostilities  with  France,  her  adepts 
in  diplomacy  succeeded  in  irritating  tfie  wretched 
government  of  Spain;  which  led  her  into  a  war 
with  Great  Britain,  though  contrary  to  the  inte- 
rests and  even  the  inclination  of  the  Court  of 


31 

Madrid.  The  Spanish  Ambassador  accordingly 
received  orders  to  return,  having  first  presented 
a  Manifesto,  dated  London,  June  16,  1779;  which 
was  the  next  day  laid  before  both  Houses  of  Par- 
liament. On  the  19th  a  Proclamation  was  issued 
for  making  reprisals  on  Spain;  and  on  the  loth  of 
July,  an  admirable  answer  to  the  Manifesto  was 
transmitted  to  their  Ambassador,  the  Marquis 
D'AImodovar,  by  Lord  Weymouth. 

Amidst  the  various  means  that  were  then  em- 
ployed to  call  forth  the  energy  and  daring  spirit 
of  the  Nation,  the  noble  conduct  of  his  Majesty 
tiannot  be  passed  by  unnoticed;  Who,  on  the  15th 
of  June,  entered  his  third  son,  Prince  William 
Henry,  now  Duke  of  Clarence,  as  a  Midshipman 
in  the  royal  navy.  This  produced  th£  following 
encomium  from  the  Spanish  Admiral  Langara  : " 
"  Well  does  Great  Britain  merit  the  Empire  of 
the  Sea,  when  the  humblest  stations  in  her  Navy 
are  supported  by  Princes  of  the  Blood." 

On  the  1 1th  of  June,  1779,  three  days  previous 
to  his  Royal  Highness'  being  entered  a  midship- 
man on  board  the  Prince  George,  Admiral  Digby, 
his  future  friend,  Captain  Nelson,  was  made  Post 
into  the  Hinchinbrook,  28  guns;  one  of  the 
enemy's  merchantmen  sheathed  with  wood,  which 

«  During  the  month  of  January,  1780.  This  anecdote,  men- 
tioned  by  Colonel  Drink  water  in  his  history  of  the  Siege  of 
Gibraltar,  (page  go)  is  not  there  quite  correctly  stated.  Prince 
William  did  not  inform  Don  Juan  that  his  boat  was  ready}  nor 
was  his  Royal  Highness  then  on  boanl. 


32 

had  been  taken,  and  purchased  into  our  service. 
Captain  Nelson  was  at  sea  in  this  ship,  when  the 
arrival  of  Count  d'Estaing  at  Hispaniola  from 
Martinico,  with  a  powerful  fleet  and  army,  threat- 
ened the  safety  of  Jamaica.  With  his  usual  zeal, 
Nelson  immediately  proffered  his  services  both  to 
the  Admiral,  and  Governor  General  Bailing,  and 
was  accordingly  appointed  to  command  the  im- 
portant batteries  at  Port  Royal.  In  a  letter  to 
Captain  Locker,  dated  from  that  place,  Aug.  12, 
the  measures  are  described  that  had  been  taken 
to  secure  Jamaica. 

*  Jamaica  is  turned  upside  down  since  you  left 
it.  The  Count  d'Estaing  is  at  the  Cape  with 
twenty  sail  of  the  line;  and  a  ilag  ship,  with  e,5ght 
or  nine  more,  are  at  Port-au-Prince :  The  latter 
fleet  fell  in  with  the  Charon  and  Pomona  in  the 
night,  but  they  got  off  by  good  sailing.  They  say 
that  there  are  twenty  thousand  men  at  the  Cape 
ready-  to  embark,  and  five  thousand  at  Port-au- 
Prince.  He  arrived  at  the  Cape  last  Saturday 
fortnight  with  one  hundred  and  twenty-five  sail, 
men  of  war  and  transports,  and  passed  Captain 
Lambert's  squadron,  which  arrived  here  yester- 
day, in  a  very  thick  day;  so  that  all  our  ships  are 
in  port,  except  the  Hinchin brook,  Hound,  and 
Porcupine;  which  we  have  reason  to  believe  are 
taken,  as  reports  are  very  strong  from  the  Bahama 
Islands. — Now  I  have  told  you  \vhat  we  may  ex- 
pect, I  will  tell  you  the  measures  taken  to  defend 
the  Island.  Five  thousand  men  are  encamped 


between  the  ferry  and  Kingston,  one  thousand 
in  Fort  Augusta,  three  hundred  at  the  Apostles 
Battery,  and  \ve  expect  to  have  five  hundred  in 
Fort  Charles.  Lion,  Salisbury,  Charon  and  Janus, 
are  in  a  line  from  the  Point  to  the  outer  Shoal, 
Ruby  and  Bristol  are  in  the  Narrows  going  to 
Kingston,  to  rake  any  ships  that  may  attack 
Fort  Augusta;  the  Pomona,  and  Speke  Indiaman 
above  Rock  Fort,  and  Lowestoffe  at  the  end  of 
the  Dock-wall.  •  Expresses  go  to-morrow  morn- 
ing to  all  quarters.  Resource  and  Penelope  are 
to  cruise  off  the  east  end.  Four  fire-ships  are 
clown  here,  two  of  them  commissioned. 

'  I  have  fairly  stated  our  situation,  and  I  leave 
you  in  England  to  judge  what  stand  we  shall 
make  :  I  think  you  must  not  be  surprised  to  hear 
of  my  learning  to  speak  French.  I  hope  you  have 
had  a  good  passage,  and  are  now  in  peace  and 
plenty  with  your  family.  Ross*  has  behaved  in 
a  very  public  spirited  manner;  he  has  sent  the 
Gayton  and  his  vessels  to  the  admiral,  and  even 
his  negroes  into  the  batteries.  I  know  we  shall 
have  your  wishes  for  success.  May  health,  peace," 
and  happiness,  always  surround  you  and  your  good 
family,  to  whom  I  beg  to  be  kindly  remembered, 
is  the  constant  wish  of  your  devoted  humble  ser- 
vant, Horatio  Nelson.' 

Notwithstanding  the  force  collected  by  d'Es- 
taing,  and  which  if  it  had  been  brought  against 

*  Hercules  Ross,  Esq. 
D 


34 

Jamaica  with  the  promptness  and  skill  of  a  Nel- 
son, might  have  inflicted  a  severe  blow  on  our 
West  India  colonies,  nothing  was  done  by  the 
enemy.  General  Dalling,  therefore,  was  left  at 
liberty y  to  execute  a  plan,  which  originated  in 
himself,  and  had  been  highly  approved  of  by  Lord 
George  Germain,  then  Secretary  of  State  for  the 
American  department ;  to  take  Fort  San  J.uan,  on 
the  Rio  San  Juan,  which  runs  from  the  great 
American  lake  Nicaragua  into  the  Atlantic,  and 
thus  to  obtain  possession  of  the  cities  of  Granada 
and  Leon :  by  which  means  the  communication 
of  the  Spaniards  would  have  been  cut  off,  be- 
tween their  northern  and  southern  dominions  in 
America. 

III.  The  command  of  the  naval  force  was  given 
to  Captain  Nelson,  and  that  of  the  troops  to  Cap- 
tain John  Poison.2  The  following  letter3  to  Cap- 
tain Locker,  dated  Port  Royal,  January  23,  1780, 
notices  this  appointment.  '  I  sailed  in  the  Hin- 

y  It  is  a  singular  circumstance,  and  one  that  has  been  noticed 
by  Mr.  Macpherson  in  his  late  valuable  Annals  of  Commerce  j 
"that  the  planters,  and  others  concerned  in  the  island  of  Jamaica, 
should  have  taken  this  opportunity  to  present  a  petition  to  the 
House  of  Commons,  February  10,  and  another  to  the  House  of 
Lords,  February  21;  Wherein  they  represented,  •'  that  Jamaica 
was  totally  destitute  of  defence,  and  owed  its  being  a  British  co- 
lony, to  the  mere  accident  of  the  forces  of  the  enemy  being 
directed  to  another  object.' 

z  Who  had,  for  that  service,  the  brevet  rank  of  Major;  now 
Colonel  Poison. 

*  Captain  Locker's  collection. 


35 

chinbrook  from  Port  Royal  in  the  middle  of  Sep- 
tember (1779)  to  join  the  Niger  and  Penelope. 
We  took  four  sail,  for  which  I  shall  share  about? 
eight  hundred  pounds  sterling.  You,  and  many 
others,  will  be  very  sorry  to  hear  of  the  death  of 
that  worthy  good  man,  Captain  Joseph  Deane. 
He  died  on  the  12th  of  January,  and  was  buried 
the  next  day  at  Green  Bay, b  amidst  the  tears  of 
his  officers  and  ship's  company  and  his  many 

friends Our  mess   is   broke   up:    Captain 

Cornwallis  and  myself  live  together.  I  trust  I 
have  made  a  friend  of  him ;  which  I  am  sure, 
from  his  character,  you  will  be  glad  to  hear. 

'  The  Admiral  says  he  will  give  me  the  first  fri- 
gate :  he  has  appointed  me  to  go  with  an  Expedi- 
tion, which  is  now  on  foot,  against  the  city  of 
Granada  upon  the  lake  of  Nicaragua :  how  it  will 
turn  out,  God  knows.  I  do  not  expect  to  return 
before  the  beginning  of  June.  Collingwood  de- 
sires to  be  very  particularly  remembered  to  you, 
and  Mrs.  Locker.  The  Admiral  sails  with  the 
fleet  on  Tuesday  next  the  25th  of  January,  to 
meet,  if  he  can,  the  Count  de  Grasse;  who  has 
been  cruising  these  some  weeks  past,  between 
Capes  Nichola  and  Maize,  with  five  sail  of  the 
line.  You  must  not  be  surprised  to  see  me  in 
England  after  this  trip;  for  if  my  health  is  not, 
much  better  than  it  is  at  present,  I  shall  certainlv 
come  home:  all  the  doctors  are  against  my  stay- 

b  A  burying-place  for  seamen  in  Jamaica. 
D  2 


36 

ing  so  long  in  this  country.  You  know  my  old 
complaint  in  my  breast  ?  it  is  turned  out  to  be  the 
gout  got  there.  Cuba,  and  all  your  acquaint- 
ance in  this  part  of  the  world  desire  to  be  kindly  ' 
remembered  to  you,  and  none  more  so  than  Cap- 
tain Cornwallis,  who  has,  I  assure  you,  a  very  high 
esteem  for  your  character.  Glover  is  very  ill;  I 
hardly  think  he  will  get  over  this  cruise.  1  have 
been  twice  given  over,  since  you  left  this  country, 
with  that  horrid  disorder  the  gout.  I  must  now 
bid  you  adieu;  wishing  you  every  thing  you  can 
desire  in  this  life.' 

Anno  Captain  Nelson's  orders  from  the  Ad- 

AM.  22.  mirai?  Were  strictly  confined  to  the  Convoy 
of  the  transports  to  the  Spanish  main,  and  the 
landing  of  the  troops;  after  which  he  was  to  leave 
the  Expedition  to  Captain  Poison.  Jealousies, 
such  as  often  render  our  bestc  concerted  plans 
ineffectual,  had  not  been  dormant  on  this  occa- 
sion, so  that  Nelson,  who  was  insensible  to  every 
thing  that  did  not  promote  the  glory  of  his 
Country,  on  reaching  the  Spanish  main,  found  it 
absolutely  necessary  to  take  an  active  part. 

c  The  command  of  this  Expedition  was  originally  destined  for 
General  Garth,  accompanied  by  his  brother,  at  present  aid  dfr 
camp  to  his  Majesty  :  The  present  Earl  of  Harrington  to  be  se- 
cond in  command,  with  his  own  regiment,  in  which  were  Lord 
Mulgrave,  Major  Richard  Crewe,  the  Hon.  General  Paulet,  Lord 
Henry  Fitzgerald,  the  Hon.  Henry  Lascelles,  the  Hon.  Frederick, 
now  General  St.  John,  and  many  others.  Dr.  Moseley  was  ap- 
pointed Surgeon  General  of  the  Expedition,  but  remained  with  the 
army  at  Jamaica. 


37 

The  Expedition-1  sailed  at  the  beginning  of  the 
year,  (1780).  The  small  army  which  was  des- 
tined for  it,  consisting  of  about  two  hundred: 
regulars  of  the  60th  and  79th  regiments,  one 
hundred  men  of  Major  Dalrymple's  Loyal  Irish 
corps,  and  two  hundred  Jamaica  volunteers; 
embarked  on  board  the  several  transports  that 
had  been  prepared ;  and  left  Port  Royal  on 
the  3d  of  February,  under  convoy  of  the  Hin- 
chinbrook,  Captain  Nelson.  Their  course  was 
first  directed  for  the  Mosquito  shore,  to  receive 
some  of  the  Indians  on  board.  On  the  14th)  of 
February  they  arrived  at  Cape  Gracias  a  Dios,  a 
town  of  Honduras;  where  the  soldiers  were  en- 
camped on  a  large  plain,  about  a  mile  from  the 
sea,  called  Wank's  Savanna.  The  soil  of  this  plain 
was  found  to  be  swampy,  affording  water  at  only 
a  foot  or  two  below  the  surface.  Between  this 
Savanna  and  the  sea  was  a  large  river,  called  also 
Wank's,  surrounded  by  Scot's  grass  and  man- 
groves, to  a  considerable  distance  ;  so  as  to  «;ene- 

O  '  '  O 

rate  unwholesome   air   and   to  seclude  the   sea 
breezes  from  the  camp.     Whilst  at  this  place, 

d  Two  accounts  have  been  published  of  this  Expedition.  One 
by  Dr.  Moseley,  in  his  Treatise  on  Tropical  Diseases;  and  the  other 
by  Dr.  Dancer,  who  was  physician  to  the  troops  that  were  sent. 
His  account  has  become  extremely  scarce,  and^from  Dr.  Dancer's 
having  been  an  eye-witness  of  what  passed,  it  has  been  princi- 
pally referred  to  for  the  following  account.  It  was  originally 
printed  at  Jamaica  in  1/81,  and  is  dedicated  to  General  Dalling 
the  Governor. 

D  3 


38 

however,  the  whole  number  in  the  hospital  did 
not  exceed  thirty;  until  they  were  joined  by 
Captain  Dalrymple  and  Mr.  Schomberg,  from 
Black  River,  with  a  party  of  men  of  the  79th 
regiment,  whose  health  was  in  a  most  deplorable 
state.  The  troops  being  re-embarked  on  the 
10th  of  March,  they  in  a  few  days  left  Cape 
'Gracias  a  Dios;  and  after  anchoring  at  several 
places  on  the  Mosquito  shore,  the  appointed  ren- 
dezvous for  the  Indians  who  were  to  proceed  with 
them,  they,  arrived  on  the  24th e  at  the  River  San 
Juan:  the  men  in  general  being  in  good  health, 
and  in  great  spirits,  from  the  idea  of  having  so 
nearly  reached  their  destination. 

Here,  as  already  observed,  according  to  the 
orders  which  Nelson  had  received  from  Sir  Peter 
Parker,  the  services  of  the  Hinchinbrook  were 
to  terminate;  as  her  Captain  had  convoyed  the 
troops  to  the  Spanish  Main.  But,  to  use  his  own 
words,  preserved  in  some  memoranda  taken  at 
that  time,  '  There  not  being  a  man  who  had  ever 
been  up  the  river,  or  had  an  idea  of  the  distance 
of  any  fortification  from  its  mouth,  Capt.  Nelson 
manned  the  Mosquito  shore  craft,  and  two  of  the 
Hinchinbrook's  boats,  and  carried  the  soldiers  up 
to  the  castle  of  San  Juan.' 

About  two  hundred  regulars,  being  now  disem- 
barked from  the  transports  with  the  necessary 

«  From  Dr.  Dancer :  according  to  the  Nelson  papers  it  was  or. 
the  28th. 


equipment  of  ammunition  and  stores,  proceeded 
up  the  river  with  the  Indians  in  their  several 
crafts.  It  being  the  latter  end  of  the  dry  season, 
the  river  f  contained  very  little  water  and  was, 
full  of  shoals  and  sandy  beaches,  which  rendered 
the  passage  exceedingly  difficult:  the  men  were 
frequently  obliged  to  quit  the  boats,  and  unite 
their  utmost  exertions  in  getting  them  along 
through  a  number  of  shallow  channels  which  had 
previously  been  explored  by  the  Indians,  who 
were  sent  before  for  that  purpose.  This  labour 
continued  for  several  days  after  they  left  the 
mouth  of  the  river,  until  they  arrived  in  deeper 
water,  when  they  made,  a  quicker  progress.  But 
the  men  were  much  exposed  to  injury  from  the 
violence  of  the  sun,  for  seven  or  eight  hours 
every  day;  besides  a  still  more  intense  heat  that 
was  reflected  from  many  dry  shoals,  covered  with 
a  whitish  sand  which  sometimes  rendered  the  air 
intolerable;  and  this  was  followed  by  as  dangerous 
an  exposure  to  the  heavy  dews  at  night.  The 
brunt  of  this  arduous  fatigue  occasioned  bv  row- 

•/ 

ing  up  the  b6ats  such  a  length  of  way,  notwith- 

f  The  river  San  Juan,  according  to  Dr.  Moseley,  has  many 
unwholesome  marshes  on  its  sides,  and  the  adjacent  trees  grow 
so  thickly,  as  to  intercept  the  rays  of  the  sun ;  consequently  the 
earth  beneath  their  branches  is  covered  wSth  rotten  leaves  and 
putrid  vegetables.  The  torrents  of  water  that  fall  for  weeks  to- 
gether, during  the  periodical  rains  which"  begin  about  the  middle 
of  April,  give  the  river  a  tremendous  aspect.  The  blackness  of 
the  nights,  accompanied  with  horrible  tempests  of  lightning  and 
thunder,  constitute  a  magnificent  scene  of  terror, 

D  4 


40 

standing  the  currents,  shoals,  and  rapids  or  falls, 
•which  impeded  their  progress,  was  chiefly  sus- 
tained by  the  British  seamen,  and  Indians  :  «  The 
soldiery,'  adds  Dr.  Dancer,  *  partly  from  igno- 
rance in  those  matters,  and  partly  from  that 
indolence  which  was  the  natural  effect  of  their 
situation,  were  frequently  of  very  little  use.' 

On  the  9th  of  April,  1780,  this  advanced  party 
arrived  at  a  small  island  in  the  river,  called  San 
Bartholomew,  which  commanded  the  navigation 
in  a  rapid  and  difficult  part.  This  island,  situated 
about  sixteen  miles  below  the  Castle,  was  de- 
fended by  a  small  semicircular  battery,  mount- 
ing nine  or  ten  swivels;  and  was  employed  by  the 
Spaniards  as  a  look-out,  with  twelve  or  eighteen 
of  their  soldiers  stationed  there.  This  Out-post 
was  boarded  by  Captain  Nelson,  to  use  his  for- 
cible81 expression:  With  an  intrepidity,  that  was 
irresistible,  he  beaded  a  few  of  his  seamen,  and 
leaped  upon  the  beach.  The  place,  on  which  he 
had  precipitated  himself,  was  so  muddy,  that  he 
found  considerable  difficulty  in  extricating  him- 
self; but  he  would  admit  of  no  delay,  and,  ad- 
vancing without  his  shoes,  he  stormed  the  battery. 
In  this  gallant  exploit  he  was  bravely  supported 
by  Captain  Despard.  The  Spaniards  were  panic 
struck  at  the  daring  promptness  of  the  attack,  and 
in  vain  endeavoured  to  escape,  being  stopped  by 
the  Indians,  who  had  been  posted  higher  up  for 
that  purpose. 

£  See  Memoir,  quarto  edit.  p.  22. 


41 

Capt.  Nelson,during  this  marchjhad  been  in  im- 
minent danger  from  one  of  the  poisonous  Serpents 
of  the  Country.  Being  excessively  fatigued,  he 
had  ordered  his  hammock  on  one  of  their  halts, 
to  be  slung  under  some  trees.  During  hi$  sleep, 
that  extraordinary  animal  called  the  Monitory  k 
Lizard,  from  its  faculty  of  warning  persons  of  the 
approach  of  any  venomous  animal,  passed  across 
his  face;  which  being  observed  by  some  of  the 
attendant  Indians,  they  shouted  and  awoke  him. 
He  immediately  started  up,  and  throwing  off  the 
quilt,  found  one  of  the  most  venomous  of  the  in- 
numerable American  serpents,  curled  up  at  his 
feet.  From  this  providential  escape,  the  Indians, 
who  attended,  entertained  an  idea  that  Nelson 
was  a  superior  being  under  an  especial  protec- 
tion ;  an  idea,  which  his  wonderful  abilities  and 
unwearied  exertions  tended  to  confirm. 

By  the  llth  of  April,  1780,  they  came  in  sight 
of  the  Castle  of  San  Juan,  and  on  the  15th  the 
Siege  commenced ;  which,  with  so  small  an  army, 
was  not  carried  on  without  much  fatigue  and  dif- 
ficulty. The  Castle  surrendered  on  the  24th  of 
April,  and  soon  afterwards  the  disaffection  and 
desertion  of  the  Indians  became  general.  Cap- 
tain Nelson's  memoranda  make  it,  April  29th. 
Previous  to  this,  their  want  of  provisions  had 
been  so  great,  that  they  were  obliged  chiefly  to 

h  For  an  account  of  this  beautiful  animal,  see  Shaw's  Zoology, 
Vol.  Ill,  Part  I,  p.  214.  , 


42 

subsist  on  a  broth  made  by  boiling  the  Monkeys 
that  were  caught.  A  sort  of  food,  which  Nelson 
often  declared  nothing  could  induce  him  to  touch, 
after  seeing  their  appearance  in  the  Copper.  *  So 
general,'  says  Dr.  Dancer,  '  was  the  illness  at  this 
time,  and  ever  afterwards,  that  independent  of 
the  few  who  were  well  enough  to  do  garrison 
duty,  we  had  not  orderly  men  sufficient  to  assist 
the  sick. — From  the  month  of  April,  when  the 
Castle  surrendered,  until '  October  when  the 
army  returned  to  Bluefields,  and  for  some  time 
afterwards,  the  rains  continued  with  now  and 
then  an  interval  of  a  few  days  to  fall  in  prodi- 
gious quantities,;  and  occasionally  with  the  most 
dreadful  thunder  storms.  The  exhausted  and  de- 
bilitated state  which  most  of  the  men  were  in,  on 
being  re-embarked  for  Bluefields,  an  English 
settlement  about  twenty  leagues  to  the  north- 
ward, rendered  the  situation  and  air  of  a  ship's 
hold  mortal  to  them,  and  a  great  number  died 
on  their  passage.' 

Dr.  Moseley,  in  mentioning  this  illustrious 
Officer,  subjoins  the  following  testimony  to  the 
skill  amLvalour  which  he  then  displayed:  «  It 
was  on  our  San  Juan  Expedition,  that  he  com- 
menced his  career  of  glory.  When  unfortunate 
contentions  had  slackened  the  ardour  for  the 
> 

«  Dr.  Moseley  informs  us,  that  a  few  of  our  men,  who  were 
the  most  likely  to  live,  were  left  behind  in  the  Castle;  in  order  if 
possible  to  keep  possession  of  it,  until  further  orders  were  received 
from  Jamaica. 


43 

public  service,  Captain  Nelson  did  not  suffer 
any  narrow  spirit  to  influence  his  conduct.  He 
did  more  than  his  duty  ;  where  any  thing  was  to 
be  done,  he  saw  no  difficulties :  not  contented 
with  having  carried  the  armament  safe  to  the 
harbour  of  San  Juan,  lie  accompanied  and  assisted 
the  troops  in  all  their  difficulties.  He  was  the 
first  on  shore  at  the  attack  of  Saint  Bartholomew, 
followed  by  a  few  brave  seamen  and  soldiers,  in 
the  face  of  a  severe  fire.  The  undauntedness  of 
the  act  frightened  the  Spaniards,  who  from  the 
nature  of  the  ground  might  have  put  him  'and  his 
party  to  death :  but  they  ran  away  and  abandoned 
the  battery.  By  his  example  and  perseverance, 
the  Indians  and  seamen  were  encouraged  through 
their  toil  in  forcing  the  boats  against  the  current 
up  the  river ;  otherwise  not  a  man  would  have  seen 
San  Juan  Castle.  When  they  arrived  at  the  Castle, 
as  prompt  in  thought  as  bold  in  action,  he  ad- 
vised the  carrying  it  instantly  by  assault:  He 
knew  the  seasons  were  at  hand,  and  that  there 
was  no  time  to  be  lost. — Misunderstandings,  op- 
positions, and  delays,  the  ruin  of  many  military 
operations,  were  the  origin  of  the  failure  of  this: 
but  even  these  perplexities  and  disappointments, 
great  as  they  were,  would  not  have  defeated  the 
Expedition;  had  the  first  detachmentthatGeneral 
Dalling  sent,  taken  San  Juan  castle  in  two  hours, 
instead  of  sitting  down  formally  before  it  for 
eleven  days.' 

On  the  arrival  of  the  Victor  sloop,  which  sailed 


44 

from  Jamaica,  with  a  reinforcement,  on  the  10th 
of  April,  Captain  Nelson  received  the  intelli- 
gence that  he  had  been  appointed  by  Sir  Peter 
Parker  to  the  command  of  the  Janus,  forty-four 
guns;  vacant  by  the  death  of  Captain  Bonovier 
Glover. k 

Captain  Nelson  was  succeeded  in  the  Hinchin- 
brook  by  Captain,  now  Lord  Collingwood,  and 
returned  to  the  harbour  at  Bluefields  only  one 
day  previous  to  the  surrender  of  the  Castle;  and 
thence  embarked  for  Jamaica  in  the  Victor  sloop, 
which  was  commanded  by  Captain  Samuel  Hood 
Walker,  a  nephew  of  Lord  Hood,  who  Mras  after- 
wards lost  in  a  hurricane,  as  it  was  supposed,  off 
Savannah  la  Mar.  Captain  Nelson  found  Mr. 
Tyson1  in  this  sloop,  who  had  been  his  purser  in 
the  Badger  the  whole  time  he  commanded  her. 
Nelson  was  so  completely  debilitated  by  the  dy- 
sentery and  worn  out  by  fatigue,  that  on  the 
arrival  of  the  Victor  at  Port  Royal,  they  were 
obliged  to  take  him  on  shore  in  his  cot ;  and  in 
this  manner  he  was  first  conveyed  to  the  lodging 
house  of  his  former  black  nurse  Cuba  Corn- 
wallis,  who  has  saved  the  lives  of  many  naval 

k  A  brave  officer,  who  expired  just  before  Commodore  Corn- 
wallis's  gallant  action  with  a  very  superior  force,  on  the  20th  of 
March,  1780.  From  ill  health,  he  died  as  the  noble  Commo- 
dore expressed  himself,  '  in  the  very  hour  he  so  ardently  wished 
to  see.'  He  was  the  son  of  the  celebrated  author  of  Leonidas. 

1  Mr.  Tyson  was  afterwards  secretary  to  Lord  Nelson,  and 
was  with  him  in  that  capacity  at  Naples  in  1/99. 


45 

officers,    and    obtained   her   freedom   from   the- 
brave  and  noble  Admiral  of  that  name. 

In  the  despatches  to  General  Bailing  which 
announced  the  surrender  of  Fort  San  Juan,  and 
came   to   Jamaica  in  the  Victor  sloop ;    Major 
Poison   made   the    following,    and    first   official 
acknowledgment  of  Nelson's  professional  merit. 
'  Captain    Nelson,    then   of  the    Hinchinbrook, 
came  up  with  thirty-four  seamen,  one  serjeant, 
and  twelve  marines:  I  want  words  to  express  the 
obligations  I  owe  that  gentleman.     He  was  the 
first  on  every  service,  whether  by  day  or  night. 
There  was  not  a  gun  fired  but  was  pointed  by  him, 
or  Captain   Despard,   chief  engineer,   who  has 
exerted  himself  on   every  occasion.    I  am  per- 
suaded if  our  shot  had  held  out,  we  should  have 
had  the  fort  a  week  sooner.     As  Captain  Nelson 
goes  to  Jamaica,   he  can  inform  you  of  every 
delay  and  point  of  service,  as  well  as  I  could,  for 
he  knows  my  very  thoughts.     The  bearer,  Lieu- 
tenant Mounsey,  can  inform  your  Excellency  of 
many  things  that  may  escape  my  memory:  he  is 
a,  very  good  officer,  and  commanded  the  party  I 
sent  to  reconnoitre  the  look-out;  and  began  the 
attack  of  it  in  concert  with  Captain  Despard  and 
Captain  Nelson,  who  with  his  seamen  volunteered 
that  duty.' 

The  Spaniards  retook  Fort  San  Juan,  as  soon  as 
the  season  permitted;  but  previous  to  this,  our 
troops  had  reached  the  lake  Nicaragua. 

Captain  Nelson  soon  after  his  arrival  at  Port 


46 

Royal  sent  his  congratulations  to  General  Dalling, 
the  Governor  of  Jamaica,  on  th,e  taking  of  Fort 
San  Juan;  and  received  the  following  compli- 
mentary answer,  dated  Kingston,  May  the  30th. 
'  Thanks  to  you,  my  friend,  for  your  kind  con- 
gratulations: to  you,  without  compliment,  do  I 
attribute  in  great  measure  the  cause.* 

The  private  letter  which  General  Bailing  after- 
wards sent  from  Jamaica  to  Lord  George  Ger- 
main, will  close  the  account  of  Captain  Nelson's 
services  on  the  San  Juan  Expedition. 

'  June  C29,  1780.     My  Lord,   I  have  hitherto 
neglected  a  piece  of  justice,  due  to  the  services 
of  Captain  Nelson,  of  H.  M.  S.  Hinchinbrook, 
who  convoyed  the  first  detachment  of  troops  to 
St.  John's.     On  his  arrival  there,  the  command- 
ing officer  experienced  every  kind  of  assistance 
and  attention  from  him:  he  left  his  ship  in  the 
harbour,  and  accompanied  the  first  division  up 
the  river  to  the  fort,  with  some  of  his  seamen ;  he 
then  dedicated  himself  to  erecting  the  batteries, 
and  afterwards  to  fighting  them.    Unfortunately 
for  the  service  he  was  obliged  to  return  'to  the 
harbour,  being  appointed  to  another  ship  at  this 
island;  but  he  remained  at  the  fort  until  the  day 
before  it  surrendered.     I  most  humbly  entreat 
that   his    Majesty   will    be    graciously   pleased, 
through  your  Lordship,  to  manifest  a  satisfac- 
tion of  Captain  Nelson's  conduct;  and  in   ease 
that  a  co-operating  squadron  should  have  been 
determined  on  for  the  Southern  Ocean,  that  he 


47 

may  be  employed  on  that  service.  Captain 
Nelson's  constitution  is  rather  too  delicate  for 
the  service  under  my  direction  on  this  northern 
one.  As  such  minds,  my  Lord,  are  most  devoutly 
to  be  wished  for  government's  sake,  I  once  more 
venture  to  urge  this  suit.' 

IV.  As  soon  as  his  health  was  in  the  smallest 
degree  re-established,  Capt.  Nelson  took  the  com- 
mand of  the  Janus;  but,  experiencing  a  relapse, 
could  only  retain  it  for  a  shore  time:  during  which 
he  commenced  his  acquaintance  and  future  inti- 
macy with  the  Captains  Duckworth,  Macnamara, 
Russel,  &c.  Towards  the  end  of  August,  1780, 
his  indisposition  had  so  greatly  increased,  that  the 
faculty  declared  he  could  not  recover  in  the  West 
Indies,  and  Dr.  Moseley  in  particular  urged  the 
absolute  necessity  of  his  immediate  return  to 
Europe.  The  Admiral's  permission  is  dated  Sep- 
tember the  1st,  and  soon  afterwards  Nelson  em- 
barked on  board  his  Majesty's  ship  the  Lion, 
commanded  by  the  truly  noble  and  gallant  Wil- 
liam Cornwallis. 

In  the  Commander  of  the  Lion,  Capt.  Nelson 
had  already  found  a  mind  congenial  with  his  own  ; 
the  same  Valour,  Zeal  in  service  and  Simplicity 
of  manners  appeared  in  their  respective  cha- 
racters. They  had  recently  distinguished  them- 
selves under  the  Commander  in  Chief,  and  were 
now  returning  to  enjoy  their  well  earned  laurels 
in  the  bosom  of  their  beloved  Country.  The  con- 
versation and  kindness  of  such  an  Officer  v/as  par- 


48 

ticularly  grateful  to  Nelson,  both  during  the 
voyage  and  on  their  arrival  in  England ;  and  he 
often  afterwards  was  heard  to  declare,  that  under 
Providence,  he  considered  Captain  Cornwall!*  as 
them  second  preserver  of  his  life.  The  hospi- 
tality which  he  had  received  at  the  penn  of  Sir 
Peter  Parker  in  the  West  Indies,  was  renewed  at 
the  Admiral's  residence  in  London. 

When  the  Lion  had  arrived  in  England,  Cap- 
tain Cornwallis  immediately  forwarded  to  the  Re- 
verend Edmund  Nelson,  an  account  of  his  son's 
health,  and  requested  him  to  come  to  London, 
that  he  might  accompany  his  son  to  Bath.  On 
the  2Sd  of  January,  178 1,  Captain  Nelson  sent  the 
following  account  of  himself  from  Bath,  to  Cap- 
tain Locker. — '  I  have  been  so  ill  since  I  have 
been  here,  that  I  was  obliged  to  be  carried  to 
and  from  bed  in  the  most  excruciating  tortures. 
But,  thank  God,  I  am  now  upon  the  mending 
hand.  I  drink  the  waters  three  times  a  clay,  and 
bathe  every  other  night;  besides  drinking  wine, 
which  I  think  the  worst  of  all.' — In  another 
letter,  January  28th,  he  adds,  '  I  do  not  sit  very 
easy  under  the  hands  of  a  doctor:  although  I 
give  myself  credit  this  once,  for  having  done 
every  thing,  and  taken  every  medicine  that  was 
ordered;  so  that  Dr.  Woodward,  who  is  my  phy- 
sician, says  he  never  had  a  better  patient.  I 
have  not  quite  recovered  the  use  of  my  limbs, 

»  Sec  Memoir,  quarto  edit.  Part  II,  page  23. 


49 

yet  my  inside  is  a  new  man.'— « To  this  letter  suc- 
ceeded a  third  from  Bath,  dated  February  15, 
1781.  '  My  health,  thank  God,  is  very  near  per- 
fectly restored,  and  I  have  the  complete  use  of 
all  my  limbs  except  my  left  arm.  I  most  sin- 
cerely wish  to  be  employed  and  hope  it  will  not 
be  long.  If  I  am  not  employed,  I  intend  coming 
to  town  in  March,  and  expect  when  I  come  to  see 
a  fine  trio  (of  naval  portraits)  in  your  room.  Pray 
give  my  best  compliments  to  Captain  Pole, and  tell 
him  I  hope  we  shall  renew  our  acquaintance.  I 
must  now  wish  you  a  good  night,  and  drink  your 
health  in  a  draught  of  my  physician's  cordial  and 
a  bolus.  Adieu!' — After  eleven  weeks  bathing 
he  entirely  recovered  the  use  of  his  limbs:  when 
on  going  to  settle  with  Dr.  Woodward,  the  small- 
ness  of  the  demand  produced  a  generous  alterca- 
tion between  them.  '  Pray,  Captain  Nelson,' 
exclaimed  that  worthy  physician,  '  pray  allow  me 
to  follow  what  I  consider  to  be  my  professional 
duty.  Your  illness,  Sir,  has  been  brought  on  by 
serving  your  King  and  Country;  and,  believe  me, 
I  love  both  too  well  to  be  able  to  receive  any 
more.' 

Anno  V.  On  the  16th  of  August,  1781,  he 

Sut>  23-  was  appointed  to  commission  the  Albe- 
marle  frigate,  28  guns,  at  Woohnch;  and  on 
the  21st  he  wrote  to  Captain  Locker:  "  I  have 
been  very  busy  in  getting  my  ship's  company  in 
order  for  service,  they  are,  in  my  opinion,  as 
good  a  set  of  men  as  I  ever  saw,  indeed  I  am  per- 

£ 


fectly  satisfied  with  both  officers  and  ship's  com- 
pany; all  my  marines  are  likewise  old  standers. 
I  have  been  so  ill  as  hardly  to  be  kept  out  of  bed, 
and  have  been  but  twice  from  the  ship  since  her 
arrival."  His  orders  arrived  soon  after  this,  and 
are  dated  October  23,  1781 :  he  was  to  take  the 
Argo,  and  Enterprise,  under  his  command,  and 
proceed  to  Elsineur  for  the  homeward  bound 
trade.  He  was  also  informed,  that  he  might  pro- 
bably be  reinforced  by  some  ships  from  Commo- 
dore Stewart's  squadron,  who  was  off  the  Texel. 
It  would  be  difficult  to  fix  on  any  station,  more 
fatally  adapted  to  destroy  the  feeble  constitution 
of  an  officer,  worn  out  by  the  sultry  heats  of  San 
Juan  and  the  climate  of  the  West  Indies,  than 
the  cold  and  aguish  atmosphere  of  the  North  Sea. 
This  appointment  certainty  made  a  deep  impres- 
sion on  Nelson's  mind;  since  long  afterwards,  as 
appears  from  his  Memoir,  when  alluding  to  this 
circumstance,  he  added,  "  And  it  would  almost 
be  supposed,  to  try  my  constitution,  was  kept  the 
whole  winter  in' the  North  Sea." — Such  ideas  do 
not  remain  in  the  mind  of  any  Seaman,  without 
producing  very  serious  evils  in  the  Service;  and  it 
is  the  more  necessary  to  mark  this,  since  the  same 
neglect  being  afterwards  repeated  at  intervals, 
had  nearly  deprived  this  Country  of  the  achieve- 
ments of  a  NELSON. 

On  the  29th  of  October,  1781,  the  Albemarle. 
with  the  Enterprise,  28  guns,  Captain  J.W.  Payne, 
and  the  Argo,  44,  Captain  Butcharr,  sailed  from 


51 

the  Nore  for  the  Baltic,  and  arrived  at  Elsineur 
on  the  4th  of  November.  The  armed  Neutrality 
was  then  nearly  at  a  close,  and  a  usual  jealousy 
of  this  Country  prevailed  in  some  of  the  northern 
courts.  On  coming  to  anchor  cff  Elsineur,  the 
Danish  Admiral  merely  sent  a  midshipman  on 
board  the  Albemarle,  desiring  to  be  informed 
•what  ships  had  arrived,  and  to  have  their  force 
written  down.  "  The  Albemarle,'  exclaimed 
Nelson,  *  is  one  of  His  Britannic  Majesty's 
ships;  you  are  at  liberty,  Sir,  to  count  her  guns* 
as  you  go  down  the  side,  and  you  may  assure 
the  Danish  Admiral,  that  if  necessary  they 
shall  all  be  well  served."  Reciprocal  civilities 
afterwards  took  place,  and  the  neglect  of  the 
Danish  commander  was  forgiven,  in  not  sending 
an  officer  of  higher  rank  on  board  the  Albe- 
marle. 

On  the  igth  of  November,  1781,  Captain 
Dickson  arrived  in  the  Sampson,  64  guns,  and 
as  the  senior  officer  took  the  command  of  the 
squadron.  On  the  8th  of  December  ensuing, 
they,  left  Elsineur  with  260  sail  of  merchant- 
men and  arrived  in  safety  in  Yarmouth  Roads, 
whence,  on  the  22d,  1781,  Captain  Nelson,  in 
writing  to  his  friend  Capt.  Locker,  said,  "  What 
fools  the  Dutch  must  have  been  not  to  have 
taken  us  into  the  Texel.  The  Convoy  consisted 
of  260  sail,  and  they  behaved  as  all  Convoys, 
that  ever  I  sa\v  did,  shamefully  ill;  parting  com- 

E  2 


52 

pany  every  day.  One  hundred  and  ten  sail  are 
now  in  the  Roads." 

During  this  voyage  to  Elsineur,  Captain  Nel- 
son gained  a  considerable  knowledge  of  the 
Danish  coast  and  its  soundings,  which  after- 
wards proved  of  such  advantage  to  his  Country; 
and  he  also  commenced  an  intimate  friendship 
with  a  brother  officer,  whose  greatness  and  good- 
ness of  mind  were  congenial  to  his  own,  that  ever 
to  be  lamented  character  John  Willett  Payne. 
The  Albemarle  arrived  in  the  Downs,  on  the  3d  of 
January,  1782,  from  Yarmouth  Roads,  when  Cap- 
tain Nelson  went  on  shore  to  call  on  the  senior 
officer,  the  Hon.  Keith  Elphinstone.  During 
his  absence  from  the  ship,  there  came  on  so 
heavy  a  gale  that  almost  all  the  vessels  on  that 
station  drove,  and  the  Brilliant  store  ship,  belong- 
ing to  the  ordnance,  came  athwart  hawse  of  the 
Albemarle.  After  much  difficulty,  Captain  Nel- 
son got  on  board  his  ship  which  had  lost  her 
bowsprit  and  foremast. 

On  the  3d  of  February,  1782,  the  Albemarle 
arrived  at  Spithead,  and  on  the  2d  of  April  he 
wrote  to  Captain  Locker,  dated  Portsmouth, 
April  2d,  '  I  am  ordered  to  Cork  to  join  the 
Daedalus,  Captain  Pringle,  and  to  go  with  a  Con- 
voy to  Quebec;  where,  worse  than  all  to  tell,  I 
understand  I  am  to  winter.  Many  of  my  naval 
friends  have  advised  me  to  represent  my  situa- 
tion to  Admiral  Keppel,  and  they  have  no  doubt 


55 

but  he  would  give  me  other  orders,  or  remove 
me;  but  as  I  received  my  orders  from  Lord  Sand- 
wich, I  cannot  help  thinking  it  wrong  to  ask 
Mr.  Keppel  to  alter  them.  I  am  exceedingly 
happy  at  Charles  Pole's  success:  in  his  seaman- 
ship he  shewed  himself  as  superior  to  the  n  Don, 
as  in  his  gallantry,  and  no  man  in  the  world  was 
ever  so  modest  in  his  account  of  it.' 

The  Albemarle,  having  been  blown  out  to  sea 
from  Kingsale  Roads,  during  the  night  of  the 
thirteenth,  anchored  on  the  eighteenth  in  the 
Cove  of  Cork;  when  Lieutenant  Osborn  second 
of  the  Albemarle  being  appointed  to  the  Preston, 
Captain  Nelson  procured  an  acting  order  of  the 
senior  officer,  Captain  Bennett,  for  his  old  ship- 
mate and  follower  Mr.  Bromwich.  On  the  20th 
of  April,  he  sent  Captain  Locker  word  of  their 
safe  arrival :  "I  know  your  goodness  will  say, 
/  wonder  how  Nelson  does  ?  I  answer,  He  is  quite 
well,  better  than  for  a  long  time  past;  and  he 
hopes  by  his  return  all  your  complaints  will  be 
removed.  Remember  me  kindly  to  the  Bradley's, 
and  do  not  forget  me  to  Commissioner  Kirk,  nor 
to  Charles  Pole  when  you  see  him — never  was 
there  a  young  man  who  bore  his  own  merits  with 
so  much  modesty."  On  the  27th  of  May  they 
made  St.  John's  Harbour,  Newfoundland,  and 
came  to  an  anchor  there.  By  the  1st  of  June, 
Captain  Nelson  heard  overland  that  his  Commo- 

n  Capture  of  the  Santa  Catalina,  Spanish  frigate,  by  the  Suc- 
cess, Captain  C.  M.  Pole. 


54 

(lore  was  in  Capelin  Bay,  about  twenty  leagues  to 
the  westward;  and  on  the  same  day  in  writing  to 
Captain  Locker,  he  said,  "  We  have  heard  the 
news  °  from  the  West  Indies,  but  not  the  parti- 
culars :  It  is  reported  that  the  Duke  blew  up  in 
the  action. — I  hope  to  God  it  is  not  true,  I  had 
rather  the  French  were  at  the  devil  than  to  have 
lost  Captain  Gardner, p  he  is  a  real  .loss  to  the 
service.  My  second  Lieutenant  was  appointed 
to  the  Preston  and  left  the  ship  at  Cork,  the 
other  lieutenant  not  having  joined,  I  gave  Brom- 
wich  an  order  to  act  as  one.  He  does  his  duty 
exceedingly  well  as  an  officer,  indeed  I  am  very 
well  off,  they  are  all  good.  The  Albemarle 
joined  the  Commodore  and  convoy  in  Capelin 
Bay  on  the  5th  of  J-une,  whence  they  sailed  on  the 
17th;  and  having  been  escorted  by  the  Leocadia 
and  ./Eolus  frigates  to  the  entrance  of  the  river 
St.  Lawrence,  they  arrived  with  their  convoy  at 
the  Isle  of  Bee,  in  that  river,  on  the  second  of 

July. 

On  the  4th  of  June,  1782,  the  Albernarle  sailed 
on  a  cruise,  and  on  the  14th  captured  an  Ame- 
rican fishing  schooner  belonging  to  Cape  Cod; 
which  had  nearly  completed  her  voyage,  and  con- 
tained in  her  cargo  nearly  all  the  wealth  which 
the  master  of  her  possessed.  Not  having  any 
officer  on  board  who  was  acquainted  with  Boston 

*  Sir  George  Rodney '•  Victory,  April  12. 
P  The  late  Admiral  Lord  Gardner, 


55 

i 

Bay  and  the  adjacent  shoals,  Captain  Nelson 
ordered  the  master  of  the  fishing  schooner  to 
come  on  board  the  Albemarle,  and  act  as  her 
pilot.  The  poor  fellow,  whose  name  was  Carver, 
had  a  large  family  that  anxiously  expected  his 
return,  earnestly  hoping  that  this  trip  might 
prove  fortunate.  He  instantly  obeyed  without  a 
murmur;  and,  leaving  his  little  vessel,  exerted 
himself  to  discharge  the  orders  of  Captain  Nelson 
with  fidelity.  But  his  conduct  was  not  unnoticed 
by  that  .great  and  good  man,  who  at  length  thus 
addressed  his  prisoner:  "  You  have  rendered  us, 
Sir,  a  very  essential  service,  and  it  is  not  the 
custom  of  English  Seamen  to  be  ungrateful.  In 
the  name  therefore  and  with  the  approbation  of 
the  officers  of  this  ship,  1  return  your  schooner, 
and  with  it  this  certificate  of  your  good  conduct. 
Farewell !  and  may  God  bless  you  !" 

The  .American,  full  of  astonishment  and  grati- 
tude, returned  on  board  his  little  vessel  blessing 
the  noble  Captain  of  the  Albemarle  and  his  gene- 
rous crew:  When,  on  opening  the  paper,  he  found 
the  following  security  in  case  he  should  again  be 
captured. — These  are  to  certify,  that  I  took  the 
Schooner  Harmony,  Nathaniel  Carver,  master,  be- 
longing to  Plymouth ; q  but,  on  account  of  his  good 
Services,  have  given  him  up  his  Vessel  again.  Dated 
on  board  His  Majesty's  ship  Albemarle,  nth  of 

n  On  the  western  shore  of  Gape  Cod  Bay,  in  the  State  of  Mas- 
•achusets,  the  first  town  that  was  built  in  New  England. 


56 

i 

August,  1782.  Horatio  Nelson.  The  original 
manuscript,  so  highly  honourable  to  the  British 
Navy,  is  framed  and  hung  up  in  the  r  house  of 
Isaac  Davis,  Esq.  a  gentleman  of  Boston.  May 
similar  instances  of  liberality  and  forbearance,  on 
each  side,  destroy  those  jealousies  between  Eng- 
land and  America,  which  it  is  so  much  the  inte- 
rest of  their  enemies  to  foment. 

The  grateful  Master  of  the  schooner  came  off 
to  the  Albemarle  afterwards,  at  the  risk  of  his  life, 
with  four  sheep,  some  poultry,  and  a  quantity  of 
vegetables,  as  a  present  to  her  Captain;  and  a 
most  valuable  one  it  proved,  since  the  scurvy  was 
raging  in  the  ship.  For  a  long  time  Carver  pe- 
remptorily refused  to  be  paid,  but  was  at  length 
reluctantly  compelled  to  receive  it,  lest  he  should 
offend  Captain  Nelson:  and  here  again  that  illus- 
trious Seaman  displayed  another  instance  of  his 
humanity,  for  the  whole  of  the  American's  pre- 
sent was  shared  equally  amongst  the  sick. 

On  the  14th  of  August,  1783,  at  two  P.  M.  the 
Albemarle  was  chased  by  four  French  sail  of  the 
line  and  the  Iris  frigate,  who  had  come  out  of 
Boston  harbour.  Captain  Nelson  immediately 
wore;  and,  on  finding  that  '  they  all  beat  him  in 
sailing,'  as  is  described  in  -his  s  Memoir,  '  he 
boldly  ran  amongst  the  numerous  shoals  of  St. 
George's  Bank.'  Owing  to  this  presence  of  mind, 

r  From  the  information  of  Admiral  Sir  Isaac  Coffin,  Bart. 
•  Quarto  edit,  page  33,  where  he  seems  to  have  forgotten  the 
exact  number  of  ships. 


57 

and  that  skill  in  pilotage  on  which  he  so  justly 
valued  himself,  he  effectually  separated  his  ship 
from  the  superior  force  of  the  enemy.  The  fri- 
gate warily  continued  the  pursuit,  on  which  the 
Albemarle  at  six  o'clock  shortened  sail  and  hove 
to.  This  seemed  to  stagger  the  Iris,  who  by  sun- 
set had  nearly  got  within  gun-shot  of  her  antago- 
nist, and  during  the  night  she  escaped;  on  which 
the  Albemarle  again  stood  into  Boston  Bay,  but 
saw  nothing  of  the  frigate. 

By  the  23d  of  August,  so  many  of  his  crew  had 
suffered,  and  were  daily  sinking  under  the  scurvy, 
that  Captain  Nelson  ordered  his  ship  to  stand 
away  for  Quebec,  intending  to  have  gone  through 
the  strait  of  Canso.  Owing  to  contrary  winds,  it 
was  the  9th  of  September  before  they  could  get 
up  to  the  Isle  of  Bee,  where  they  procured  a 
pilot;  who,  on  the  morning  of  the  15th,  anchored 
the  ship  abreast  of  Cape  Torment.  At  six  A.  M. 
they  weighed,  and  made  sail  with  light  airs  of 
wind  through  the  north  traverse;  but  at  nine  it 
fell  calm,  and  the  ship  drifted  amongst  the  Shoals. 
The  pilot,  who  was  frightened  out  of  his  senses, 
earnestly  entreated  the  Captain  to  go  back  to  the 
anchorage  they  had  left  in  the  morning.  No, 
replied  Nelson,  /  have  a  great  number  of  men 
s}ck  on  board:  I  am  bound  to  Quebec,  and  there 
I  will  go:  (  Upon  which,'  adds  Lieutenant  Brom- 
wich,  '  we  turned  to,  and  warped  the  ship  through 
the  north  traverse,  to  the  utter  astonishment  of 


58 

the  pilot.     On  the  17th  we  anchored  at  Quebec, 
and  sent  our  sick  to  the  hospital.' 

During  these  repeated  visits  to  Quebec,  Cap- 
tain Nelson  first  became  acquainted  with  Mr. 
Alexander  Davison,  at  whose  house  he  expe- 
rienced the  utmost  hospitality,  and  from  whom, 
both  at  this  time,  and  long  afterwards,  he  received 
innumerable  acts  of  kindness.  The  sanguine  mind 
of  Nelson  often  required  the  cool  and  steady 
reason  of  a  friend  to  regulate  the  common  oc- 
currences of  private  life:  his  extraordinary  cha- 
racter displayed  no  inconsiderable  portion  of 
knight-errantry,  and  like  the  most  celebrated 
warriors  in  the  annals  of  chivalry, '  he  devoted 
himself  equally  a  la  Guerre,  at  a  V Amour. 

The  Albemarle  sailed  on  the  20th,  from  Bee 
roads  for  New  York,  in  company  with  the  Pan- 
dora, Captain  Inglis,  and  23  sail  of  transports; 
and  on  the  llth  of  November  arrived  at  Sandy- 
Hook,  where  Captain  Nelson  found  Admiral  Lord 
Hood  in  the  Barfleur,  with  twelve  sail  of  the  line. 
When  he  waited  on  Admiral  Digby,  Lord  Hood 
was  present  and  saw  the  Captain  of  the  Albemarle 
for  the  first  time.  You  are  come,  said  Admiral 
Digby,  on  a  fine  station  for  ??iaking  Prize  money. 
Yes,  Sir,  replied  Nelson,  but  the  JVest  Indies  is 
the  stal'wnfor  Honour.  He  soon  afterwards  went 

1  '  La  Guerre,  1' Amour,  ct  la  Religion,  formoient,  comme  on 
tait,  la  base  cle  cette  institution  sintjuliere.'  Histoire  Litcraire 
tits  Troubadours,  (torn.  i.  p.  35.) 


59 

on  board  the  Barfleur  and  anxiously  requested 
Lord  Hood  to  ask  for  the  Albemarle :  a  favour 
which  was  not  obtained  from  Admiral  Digby 
without  much  difficulty,  so  highly  was  Nelson's 
professional  merit  then  esteemed.  It  was  in 
America,  and  at  this  period,  that  Nelson  became 
acquainted  with  a  distinguished  Officer,  he  after- 
wards so  much  regarded,  his  Royal  Highness 
Prince  William  Henry,  now  Duke  of  Clarence; 
who  had  been  serving  in  the  capacity  of  a  mid- 
shipman under  Admiral  Digby,  but  on  Lord 
Hood's  arrival  went,  by  his  Majesty's  directions, 
on  board  the  Barfleur.  His  Royal  Highness  has 
been  pleased  to  describe  this  first  interview  with 
Captain  Nelson,  and  his  personal  appearance  at 
that  time:  '  I  was  then  u  a  Midshipman  on  board 
the  Barfleur,  lying  in  the  narrows  off  Staten 
Island,  and  had  the  watch  on  deck ;  when  Cap- 
tain Nelson  of  the  Albemarle  came  in  his  barge 
alongside,  who  appeared  to  be  the  meerest  boy  of 
a  Captain  I  ever  beheld,  and  his  dress  was  worthy 
of  attention.  He  had  on  a  full  laced  uniform,  his 
lank  unpowdered  hair  was  tied  in  a  stiff  Hessian 
tail  of  an  extraordinary  length;  the  old-fashioned 
flaps  of  his  waistcoat  added  to  the  general  quaint- 
ness  of  his  figure,  and  produced  an  appearance 
which  particularly  attracted  my  notice,  for  I  had 
never  seen  any  thing  like  it  before,  nor  could  I 

u  From  minutes  of  a  conversation  with  his  Rojal  Highness  at 
Bushey  Park. 


60 

imagine  who  he  was,  nor  what  he  came  about. 
My  doubts  were,-  however,  removed,  when  Lord 
Hood  introduced  me  to  him.  There  was  some- 
thing irresistibly  pleasing  in  his  address  and  con- 
versation; .and  an  enthusiasm,  when  speaking  on 
professional  subjects,  that  shewed  he  was  no  com- 
mon being.  Nelson  after  this  went  with  us  to  the 
West  Indies,  and  served  under  Lord  Hood's  flag 
during  his  indefatigable  cruise  off  Cape  Francois. 
Throughout  the  whole  of  the  American  War,  the 
height  of  Nelson's  ambition  was  to  command  a 
line  of  battle  ship;  as  for  Prize-money,  it  never 
entered  his  thoughts:  he  had  always  in  view  the 
character  of  his  maternal  uncle.  I  found  him 
warmly  attached  to  my  Father,  and  singularly 
humane.  He  had  the  honour  of  the  King's  service, 
and  the  independence  of  the  British  Navy  parti- 
cularly at  heart,  and  his  mind  glowed  with  this 
idea  as  much  when  he  was  simply  Captain  of  the 
Albemarle,  and  had  obtained  none  of  the  honours 
of  his  Country,  as  when  he  was  afterwards  deco- 
rated with  so  much  well  earned  distinction.' 

There  is  an  anecdote  respecting  him,  whilst 
on  this  station,  which  cannot  be  better  related, 
than  in  the  words  of  Lieutenant  Bromwich. 
"  The  day  before  we  sailed,  Captain  Nelson  went 
on  board  the  Barfleur;  when  Lord  Hood  said  to 
him,  "  I  suppose,  Sir,  from  the  length  of  time  you 
were  cruising  amongst  the  Bahama  Keys,  you 
must  be  a  good  pilot  there."  "  My  Lord,"  replied 
Nelson,  "  I  am  well  acquainted  with  them;  but 


61 

my  second  lieutenant  is  far  my  superior  in  that 
respect." — '  I  was  therefore,'  adds  Mr.  Brom- 
wich,  l  sent  for  by  Captain  Knight,  who  asked 
me  many  questions  respecting  the  Bahama  Keys, 
as  it  was  expected  that  the  French  would  attempt 
some  of  the  passages  between  them,  and  I  was  in 
consequence  ordered  to  hold  myself  in  readiness 
for  that  service.  I  never  heard  of  this  proof  of 
my  worthy  Captain's  good  intentions  towards  me 
from  himself,  but  by  means  of  some  officers  who 
were  present.' 

The  Albemarle  sailed  with  Lord  Hood's  fleet 
for  the  West  Indies,  on  the  2£d  of  November. 
On  which  the  French  squadron,  under  the  Mar- 
quis de  Vaudreuil,  left  Boston,  intending  to  go 
to  Cape  Francois,  off  which  Lord  Hood  had  sta- 
tioned his  fleet;  but  as  the  enemy  were  informed 
of  this  by  a  neutral  vessel,  they  in  consequence 
pushed  through  the  Mona  Passage  and  got  into 
Porto  Cavallo,  on  the  coast  of  the  Caraccas.  In 
writing  to  Captain  Locker,  Feb.  Q5,  1783,  Nelson 
said,  '  My  situation  in  Lord  Hood's  fleet  must  be 
in  the  highest  degree  flattering  to  any  young  man, 
he  treats  me  as  if  I  were  his  son,  and  will,  I  am 
convinced,  give  me  any  thing  I  can  ask  of  him. 
Nor  is  my  situation  with  Prince  William  less  flat- 
tering: Lord  Hood  was  so  kind  as  to  tell  him 
(indeed  I  cannot  make  use  of  expressions  strong 
enough  to  describe  what  I  felt)  that  if  he  wished 
to  ask  questions  relative  to  Naval  Tactics,  I  could 
give  him  as  much  information  as  anv  officer  in  the 


62 

fleet.  He  will  be,  I  am  certain,  an  ornament  to 
our  Service.  He  is  a  Seaman,  which  you  could 
hardly  suppose,  every  other  qualification  you  may 
expect  from  him;  but  he  will  be  a  disciplinarian, 
and  a  strong  one.  A  vast  deal  of  notice  has  been 
taken  of  him  at  Jamaica,  he  has  been  addressed 
by  the  Council,  and  the  House  of  Assembly  was 
to  address  him  the  day  after  I  sailed.  He  has  his 
levees  at  Spanish  Town,  they  are  all  highly  de- 
lighted with  him :  With  the  best  temper  and  great 
good  sense,  he  cannot  fail  of  being  pleasing  to 
every  one.' 

The  Albemarle,  on  the  2Qth  of  March,  looked 
into  Porto  Cavallo,  and  found  there  eleven  sail 
of  the  line,  two  frigates,  a  ship  armed  en  flute,  and 
several  merchantmen.  The  next  day  they  exa- 
mined Curacoa  harbour;  and,  when  bet  ween  Porto 
Cavallo  and  laGuira,  took  a  King's  launch  belong- 

cj  J5 

ing  to  the  Spaniards  with  an  illustrious  foreigner 
the  Count  de  deux  Ponts,  M.  Lynch,  and  several 
French  officers  of  distinction,  who  formed  a  part 
of  the  French  squadron  and  had  been  on  a  visit  to 
Caracca  de  Leon.  After  endeavouring  to  procure 
what  intelligence  he  was  able,  Captain  Nelson, 
with  a  liberality  which  his  distinguished  captives 
well  knew  how  to  appreciate,  immediately  granted 
them  their  liberty.  The  Albemarle  returned  to 
Port  Royal;  and,  on  the  9th  of  May,  accompanied 
His  Royal  Highness  Prince  William,  who  was  on 
board  the  Fortune'e,  Captain  Christian,  on  his  visit 
to  the  H  avail  nafa.  H.R.H.was  also  attended  by  the 


63 

Captains  Goodall,  Rowley,  and  Merrick.  Lord 
Hood  x  followed  with  the  fleet,  and  remained  off 
the  place  until  His  Royal  Highness'  return. 

On  the  1 1th  of  May,  the  Albemarle  sailed  from 
the  Havannah  for  St.  Augustine,  East  Florida, 
with  despatches  from  Lord  Hood;  on  the  lyth 
she  stood  for  England,  and  on  the  25th  of  June, 
17S3,  anchored  at  Spithead.  The  ship  was  paid 
off  in  Portsmouth  harbour  on  the  3d  of  July. 
Captain  Nelson  immediately  went  to  London, 
whence,  on  the  12th,  he  thus  continued  his  cor- 
respondence with  Captain  Locker,  from  lodgings 
in  Salisbury  Street.  l  My  time,  ever  since  I 
arrived  in  town,  has  been  taken  up  in  attempt- 
ing to  get  the  wages  due  to  my  Good  Fellows,  for 
various  ships  they  have  served  in  during  the  war. 
The  disgust  of  the  Seamen  to  the  Navy,  is  all 
owing  to  the  infernal  plan  of  turning  them  over 
from  ship  to  ship;  so  that  men  cannot  be  attached 
to  their  officers,  nor  their  officers  care  the  least 
about  the  men.  My  ship  was  paid  off  last  week, 
and  in  such  a  manner  as  must  flatter  any  officer, 
particularly  in  these  turbulent  times;  the  whole 
ship's  company  offered,  if  I  could  get  a  ship,  to 
enter  for  her  immediately.  But  I  have  no 
thoughts  of  going  to  sea,  for  I  cannot  afford  to 
live  on  board  in  such  a  way  as  is  going  on  at  pre- 

*  His  Lordship  sent  as  a  present  to  the  Governor  of  the  Hc- 
vannah,  a  sirloin  of  beef  that  had  been  roasted  and  a  buttock 
that  had  been  boiled  in  England. 


64 

sent.  Yesterday  Lord  Hood  carried  me  to  St. 
James's,  where  the  King-  was  exceedingly  atten- 
tive. On  Monday,  or  Tuesday,  I  am  to  be  at 
Windsor,  to  take  leave  of  Prince  William  pre- 
vious to  his  embarkation  for  the  continent. 
Captain  Merrick,  a  young  man  of  Lord  Hood's 
bringing  up,  is  to  be  with  him.' 

The  following  letter  to  Mr.  Ross,  gives  an  inte- 
resting display  of  Nelson's  feelings  at  the  close 
of  the  American  War,  it  is  dated  from  Salisbury 
Street,  August  9,  1783.  '  My  dear  friend,  lam 
sure  you  are  well  convinced. that  nothing  but  my 
being  ignorant  where  to  direct  to  you,  could  have 
hindered  you  from  being  troubled  with  my  non- 
sense. The  innumerable  favours  I  have  received, 
be  assured  I  shall  never  forget;  and  any  oppor- 
tunity that  shall  offer  of  my  making  some  small 
return,  you  may  always  command — but  I  have 
done.  You  have  long  looked  on  me  with  a 
favourable  eye,  and  I  believe  that  I  don't  want 
oratitude.  I  have  closed  the  War  without  a  for- 

o 

tune;  but  I  trust,  and  from  the  attention  that 
has  been  paid  to  me  believe,  that  there  is  not  a 
speck  in  my  character ;  True  Honour  I  hope 
predominates  in  my  mind  far  above  riches.' 

Anno  VI.    In  a  preceding  letter  to  Captain 

^Etat.  26.  Lockerj  Nelson  had  expressed  his  deter- 
mination to  remain  unemployed  during  a  Peace; 
and  this  he  said,  not  only  from  motives  of  eco- 
nomy, but  from  an  inclination  at  the  moment  to 
indulge  the  natural  independence  of -his  disposi- 


65 

tion.  But  the  stagnation  of  an  inactive  life  on 
shore,  soon  produced  that  restlessness  which 
forms  a  peculiar  feature  in  the  character  of  our 
seamen.  He  therefore  resolved  to  visit  France, 
in  company  with  his  friend  Captain  Macnamara 
since  dead,  that  he  might  acquire  that  knowledge 
of  the  French  language  which  is  of  so  much  ser- 
vice to  a  naval  officer.  The  only  account  that 
remains  of  their  Tour,  is  contained  in  the  follow- 
ing letters  to  Captain  Locker;  the  first  of  which 
is  dated  from  St.  Omer,  Nov.  2,  1783. 

11  Our  Travels,  since  we  left  you,  have  been 
extended  to  much  greater  length  than  I  appre- 
hended; but  I  must  do  Captain  Mac  the  justice  to 
say,  it  was  all  my  doings,  and  in  a  great  measure 
against  his  advice  :  however  experience  bought  is 
the  best,   and  all  my  inexperience  I  have  paid 
pretty  dearly  for.     We  dined  at  Canterbury  the 
day  we  parted  from  you,  and  called  at  Captain 
Sands's  house,  but  he  was  just  gone  out  to  dinner 
in  the  country,  therefore  we  did  not  see  him. 
We  slept  at  Dover,  and  next  morning  at  seven 
o'clock  put  to  sea  with  a  fine  N.W.  wind ;  and  at 
half  past  ten  we  were  safe  at  breakfast  in  Mon- 
sieur Grandsire's  house  at  Calais — his  mother  kept 
it  when  Hogarth  composed  his  Gate  of  Calais. 
Sterne's  Sentimental  Journey  is  the  best  descrip- 
tion I  can  give  of  our  Tour.     Mac  advised  me  to 
go  first  to  St.  Omer,  as  he  had  experienced  the 
difficulty  of  attempting  to  fix  in  any  place  where 
there  are  no  English.   After  dinner  we  set  off  in- 


66 

tending  to  go  to  Montrieul,  sixty  miles  from 
Calais.  They  told  us  we  travelled  en  poste,  but  I 
am  sure  we  did  not  get  on  more  than  four  miles 
an  hour.  At  Marquees,  we  were  shewn  into  an 
inn,  they  called  it,  I  should  have  called  it  a  pig- 
sty. We  were  put  into  a  room  with  two  straw 
beds,  and  with  great  difficulty  they  mustered  up 
clean  sheets,  and  gave  us  two  pigeons  for  supper 
upon  a  dirty  cloth,  and  laid  wooden  handled 
knives.  O  what  a  transition  from  happy  Eng- 
land !  But  we  laughed  at  the  repast,  and  went 
to  bed  with  a  determination  that  nothing  should 
ruffle  our  tempers. 

"  Having  slept  very  well,  Mre  set  off  at  day-light 
for  Boulogne,  "where  we  breakfasted:  this  place 
was  full  of  English,  I  suppose  because  wine  is  so 
very  cheap.    We  went  on  after  breakfast  to  Mon- 
trieul.    Next  clay,  Saturday,  we  proceeded  upon 
our  tour;  leaving  Montrieul  with  great  regret, 
we  reached  Abbeville  at  eight  o'clock.     I  deter- 
mined, with  Mac's  advice,  to  steer  for  St.  Omer, 
where  we  arrived  last  Tuesday.     We  lodge  with 
a  pleasant  French  family  and  have  our  dinners 
sent  from  a  traiteurs.    There  are  two  very  agree- 
able young  ladies,  daughters,  who  honour  us  with 
their  company  pretty  often;  one  always  makes 
our  breakfast  and  the  other  our  tea,  and  we  play 
a  game  at  cards  in  the  evening:  therefore  I  must 

o  o 

learn  French,  if  it  is  only  for  the  pleasure  of  talk- 
ing to  them,  for  they  do  not  speak  a  word  of  Eng- 
lish. If  Charles  Pole  is  arrived,  and  you  write  to 


67 

him,  give  rny  kind  respects;  I  esteem  him  as  a 
brother." 

His  next  letter  is  dated  from  the  same  place, 
"  St.  Omer,  Nov.  26,  1783.  My  mind  is  too  much 
taken  up  with  the  recent  account  'of  my  dear 
Sister's  death,  to  partake  of  any  amusements.  If 
I  am  not  in  England  before  the  winter  is  over,  I 
shall  go  to  Paris  in  the  spring;  where  I  have  re- 
ceived a  most  polite  invitation  from  the  Officer 
whom  I  detained  off  Porto  Cavallo.  I  did  not 
know  his  rank  at  that  time,  nor  afterwards  until 
I  came  here — he  went  by  the  name  of  the  Count 
deDeux  Ponts.  He  is  a  Prince  of  the  empire,  a 
general  of  the  French  army,  knight  of  the  grand 
order  of  St.  Louis,  and  was  second  in  command 
at  the  capture  of  York  Town  :  his  brother  is  heir 
apparent  to  the  electorate  of  Bavaria,  and  the 
Palatinate.  The  present  elector  is  eighty  years 
of  age,  and  this  nobleman's  brother  is  upon  his 
death-bed.  So  most  probably  I  shall  have  had  the 
honour  of  taking  prisoner  a  man,  who  will  be  a 
sovereign  prince  of  Europe,  and  bring  into  the 
field  near  a  hundred  thousand  men." 

During  this  continuance  at  St.  Omer,  the  inti- 
macy which  they  had  formed  with  some  agreeable 
daughters  of  an  English  clergyman,  Mr.  Andrews, 
fascinated  the  susceptible  heart  of  Nelson.  To  one 
of  these  ladies  he  became  gradually  much  attached, 
and  she  was  in  every  respect  worthy  of  his  atten- 
tions. There  was  only  one  obstacle  that  prevented 
their  union,butthat  was  an  imperious  one — neither 


68 

of  them  wa?  sufficiently  independent.  Nelson  was 
therefore  reluctantly  obliged  to  retreat,  and  to- 
hope  for  better  days.  But  his  connexion  with 
this  worthy  family  did  not  entirely  terminate  on 
this  occasion  :  Miss  Andrews  had  a  brother,  novr 
a  Captain  in  the  royal  navy,  who  commenced  his 
career  in  the  profession  in  1778,  under  the  aus- 
pices of  Lord  Howe ;  and  had  returned  to  his- 
family  at  the  late  peace.  This  gallant  officer, 
who  has  since  been  rendered  incapable  of  ser- 
vice, by  the  fatigue  and  hardships  he  experi- 
enced in  the  discharge  of  his  duty,  became  from 
that  time  a  follower  of  Captain  Nelson. 

At  the  beginning  of  1784,  he  appears  to  have 
returned  to  England,  and  was  soon  asked  by  Lord 
Howe,  who  then  presided  at  the  Admiralty,  if  he 
wished  to  be  employed  ?  To  which  h-e  answered 
in  the  affirmative.  Accordingly  at  the  end  of 
March  he  was  appointed  to  the  Boreas,  28  guns, 
destined  for. the  Leeward  Islands. 

Captain  Nelson  was  desired  to  carry  out  Lady 
Hughes  and  family  toSirRichard,whocommanded 
on  that  station ;  and  in  this  ship,  the  Rev.William 
Nelson  became  again,  as  he  had  been  at  school, 
the  companion  of  his  gallant  brother,  and  em- 
braced the  opportunity  of  visiting  the  West 
Indies:  he  also  occasionally  officiated  as  chap- 
lain, as,  from  the  rate  of  the  ship,  the  Boreas 
could  not  have  one  appointed.  Some  occur- 
rences which  took  place  after  the  Boreas  had 
}«ft  the  river,  are  detailed  in  the  following  letter 


69 

to  Capt.  Locker. — "Portsmouth,  April  21,  1784. 
Since  I  parted  from  you,   I  have  encountered 
many   disagreeable    adventures.     The   morning 
after  I  left  you,  we  sailed  at  day-light,  just  after 
high  water.     Wednesday  I  got  into  a  quarrel 
with  a  Dutch  Indiaman  who  had  Englishmen  on 
board;  which  we  settled  though  with  some  diffi- 
culty:   the   Dutchman  ,has   made   a   complaint 
against  me;  but  the  Admiralty  fortunately  have 
approved  my  conduct  in  the  business,  a  thing 
they  are  not  very  guilty  of  where  there  is  a  like- 
lihood of  a  scrape.    And  yesterday,  to  complete 
me,   I  was  riding  a  blackguard  horse  that  ran 
away  with  me  at  Common,  carried  me  round  all 
the  works  into  Portsmouth  by  the  London  gates, 
through  the  town, and  out  at  the  gate  that  leads  to 
Common,  where  there  was  a  waggon  in  the  road, 
which  is  so  very  narrow  that  a  horse  could  barely 
pass.     To  save  my  legs,  and  perhaps  my  life,  I 
was  obliged  to  throw  myself  from   the  horse, 
Avhich  I   did  with  great  agility;  but  unluckily 
upon  hard  stones,  which  has  hurt  my  back  and 
my  leg,  but  done  no  other  mischief.     It  was  a 
thousand    to   one   that   I   had  been  killed.     To 
crown  all,  a  young  girl  was  riding  with  me,  and 
Jier  horse  ran  away  with  mine;  but  most  fortu- 
nately a  gallant  young  man  seized  her  horse's 
bridle  a  moment  before  I  was  dismounted,   and 
saved  her  from  the  destruction  which  she  could 
not  have  avoided." 


70 

Anno  VII.    On  the  19th  of  May,  1784,  the 

^Etat.  36.  Boreas  sailed  for.  her  station  at  Barba- 
does  and  the  Leeward  Islands.  Captain  Nelson 
was  at  that  time  a  very  young  man,  and  had  not 
been  many  years  on  the  Post  list;  yet  he  tho- 
roughly understood  every  branch  of  the  naval 
service,  and  with  the  utmost  zeal  and  perse- 
verance daily  and  hourly  studied  every  thing 
that  could  possibly  tend  to  promote  its  advan- 
tage. A  time  of  profound  peace  would  seem 
unlikely  to  offer  opportunities,  for  a  display  of 
those  talents  which  his  comprehensive  mind  pos- 
sessed; but,  as  he  himself  often  said,  "  a  Captain 
of  a  man  of  war,  if  he  does  his  Duty,  will  find 
sufficient  to  occupy  his  mind,  and  to  render 
service  to  his  Country,  on  any  station,  either  in 
peace  or  war." 

The  Boreas  arrived  at  Madeira  on  the  first  of 
June ;  and  on  the  second,  after  breakfast,  the 
Governor  sent  the  Major  of  his  guards,  with  his 
state  barge,  to  convey  Lady  Hughes  and  her 
suite  on  shore,  which  was  politely  declined.  At 
half  past  ten,  the  ship  being  completely  manned, 
Lady  Hughes  and  her  daughter,  attended  by 
Captain  Nelson,  two  lieutenants,  the  lieutenant 
of  marines,  and  the  Rev.  William  Nelson,  went 
into  the  barge;  and  as  soon  as  she  was  got  to  a 
convenient  distance,  she  was  saluted  with  eleven 
guns  and  three  cheers,  which  were  returned 
from  the  barge.  Captain  Nelson  was  also  ac- 


71 

companied  by  ten  midshipmen;  so  that  nothing 
could  have  a  more  respectable  appearance.  This 
was  his  constant  mode  of  paying  visits  of  cere- 
mony:  because,  in  his  opinion,  it  was  highly 
beneficial  to  his  young  gentlemen  in  their  pro- 
fessional career;  and  it  is  to  be  lamented  that 
this  mode,  from  its  great  utility,  is  not  more 
generally  adopted  in  the  service. 

On  Tuesday,  June  the  8th,  1784,  the  Boreas 
got  under  sail.  From  the  experience  which  he 
possessed  of  the  pernicious  effect  of  the  West 
India  climate  on  Europeans,  who  had  not  been 
accustomed  to  it,  he  gave  such  directions  as 
proved  of  wonderful  utility,  and  tended  in  a 
very  remafkable  degree  to  preserve  the  health 
of  his  crew,  during  the  vicissitudes  of  a  four 
years  station.  The  Boreas  arrived  at  Barbadoes 
on  the  26'th  of  June.  It  was  no  small  degree  of 
satisfaction  to  Captain  Nelson,  to  find  himself 
senior  Captain  and  second  in  command  on  that 
station.  During  the  passage  of  the  Boreas  down 
to  Antigua,  to  be  laid  up  for  the  hurricane 
months,  he  paid  a  visit  to  Fort  Royal,  and  St. 
Pierre,  Marti nico.  On  quitting  Martinico  they 
stood  over  for  English  Harbour,  Antigua,  where 
they  found  the  Latona  with  a  broad  pendant 
hoisted.  The  surprise  of  Captain  Nelson  on  see- 
ing this  was  rather  increased  than  lessened,  on 
reading  the  following  Order  which  had  been  issued 
by  Admiral  Sir  R.  Hughes  : 

MEM.    In  consequence  of  the  Orders  given 


72 

by  my  predecessors,  Lord  Rodney,  and  Admiral 
Pigot,  directing  the  Commanders  of  his  Majesty's 
ships  and  vessels  to  put  themselves  under  the 
command  of  Sir  John  Laforey,  during  their  stay 
in  English  Harbour,  &c.  You  are  hereby  required 
and  directed  to  obey  the  orders  of  Resident  Com- 
missioner' Moutray,  during  the  time  you  may 
have  occasion  to  remain  in  English  Harbour- 
and  the  said  Resident  Commissioner  has  my 
Orders  to  hoist  a  broad  pendant  for  that  pur- 
pose, on  board  any  of  his  Majesty's  ships,  in  that 
port,  that  he  may  think  proper. 

Signed,  R.  HUGHES, 

Captain  Nelson,  having  well  weighed  the  Ad- 
miral's Order,  and  the  tenor  of  it,  concluded  that 
he  could  not,  and  ought  not,  to  put  himself  under 
the  command  of  a  Resident  Commissioner;  and 
as  this  Resident  Commissioner's  hoisting  a  broad 
pendant  was  not  consistent  with  the  service,  since 
he  only  enjoyed  a  civil  situation,  he  exclaimed, 
"  I  know  of  no  superior  Officers  besides  the  Lords 
Commissioners  of  the  Admiralty,  and  my  seniors 
on  the  Post  List."  He  therefore  determined  to 
resist  this  innovation;  and  the  moment  that  his 
ship  had  anchored,  he  sent  an  order  to  Captain 
Sandys  of  the  Latona,  to  strike  the  Commis- 
sioner's broad  pendant,  and  return  it  to  the  dock- 
yard, which  was  done  accordingly :  But  to  prove 
that  he  was  not  actuated  by  any  other  motive  in 
this  proceeding,  than  the  good  of  the  Service,  he 
went. on  that  very  day  and  dined  with  the  Com- 


73 

missioner,  and  brought  him  the  first  intelligence 
of  his  pendant  being  struck.  Admiral  Sir  R. 
Hughes,  who  was  then  lying  at  Barbadoes,  as 
soon  as  he  heard  of  what  had  taken  place,  sent 
an  account  of  it  to  the  Admiralty,  who  approved 
of  Captain  Nelson's  conduct. 

When  the  hurricane  months  were  over,  and 
whilst  the  Boreas  remained  at  anchor  in  Nevis 
road,  a  French  frigate  passed  to  leeward  close 
along  shore.  According  to  Captain  Nelson's 
information,  which  proved  to  be  correct,  this 
frigate  had  been  sent  to  make  a  survey  of  our 
West  India  islands,  and  had  on  board  two  general 
officers  and  some  engineers.  He  therefore  gave 
orders  to  accompany  the  French  ship,  that  he 
might  prevent  them  from  executing  their  inten- 
tions. The  Boreas  accordingly  got  under  weigh, 
and  pursuing  the  frigate,  found  her  the  next  day 
at  anchor  in  the  road  of  St.  Eustatia.  Captain 
Nelson  anchored  at  about  two  cables  length  on 
the  frigate's  quarter.  After  the  interchange  of 
salutes  and  other  mutual  civilities,  both  himself 
and  his  officers  were  the  next  day  invited  by  the 
Dutch  governor  to  dinner,  to  meet  the  French 
officers;  and  an  opportunity  was  thus  afforded 
Captain  Nelson  of  making  known  his  intentions, 
which  he  gladly  embraced:  He  informed  the 
Captain  of  the  frigate,  with  a  courtesy  worthy 
of  an  experienced  Statesman,  "  that  understand- 
ing it  was  the  wish  of  the  French  to  honour  the 
Pritish  West  India  islands  with  a  visit,  he  had 


74 

taken  the  earliest  opportunity  in  his  power  to 
accompany  them  in  his  Majesty's  ship  the  Boreas, 
that  such  attention  might  he  paid  to  the  officers 
of  his  Most  Christian  Majesty,  as  every  English- 
man in  the  Islands  would  be  proud  of  an  oppor- 
tunity of  shewing."  The  French  officers  having 
made  repeated  attempts  to  elude  his  vigilance, 
but  without  effect,  abandoned  their  project  and 
beat  up  to  Martinico.  The  Boreas  immediately 
beat  up  for  Barhadoes,  and  never  lost  sight  of 
the  frigate  until  she  was  safe  in  Martinico, 
whence  she  had  originally  sailed. 

Anno  VIII.  At  the  close  of  this  year  and 

^tat.  z7.  tne  beginning  of  the  ensuing  one,  1785, 
Captain  Nelson,  having  no  declared  enemies  to 
contend  with,  began  to  pay  an  extraordinary  at- 
tention to  the  commercial  interests  of  his  Coun- 
try, in  the  West  Indies:  which  proved  an  effeeJttial 
support  to  his  Majesty's-  order  in  council,  July 
the  2d,  1783,  respecting  the  American  trade 
thither,  and  became  highly  honourable  to  Nel- 
son's professional  abilities.  His  active  spirit 
would  never  allow  him  to  remain  idle  on  any 
station,  even  during  a  time  of  peace,  nor  to 
suffer  the  smallest  wishes  of  his  Sovereign  to  be 
neglected.  He  observed,  that  our  West  India 
islands  swarmed  with  American  vessels,  to  the 
great  detriment  of  the  British  trade  and  com- 
merce. For  the  Americans,  taking  advantage  of 
the  registers  of  their  vessels  prior  to  their  inde- 
pendence, and  issued,  as  they  said,  whilst  they 


75 

were  British  subjects,  were  uniformly  counte- 
nanced by  the  planters,  merchants,  and  officers 
of  the  customs  of  our  different  islands,  to  the 
aggrandizement  of  individuals,  and  the  injury  of 
the  commerce  of  the  mother  country.  He  there- 
fore was  determined  to  put  a  stop,  as  soon  as 
possible,  to  this  illicit  trade.  It,  was  on  this  oc- 
casion, and  from  the  cabal  formed  by  men  whose 
duty  it  particularly  was  to  aid  and  support  the 
patriotic  spirit  of  Nelson,  that  a  correspondence 
commenced  between  him  and  General  Sir  Thomas 
Shirley,  Governor  of  the  Leeward  Islands;  in 
which  the  former  clearly  pointed  out  the  steps  to 
be  taken  at  so  important  a  crisis.  But  this  zeal 
and  unusual  mode  of  giving  advice  to  a  superior, 
awakening  the  military  jealousy  and  irritating 
the  pride  of  the  governor,  he  replied,  "  That  old 
GtJherals  were  not  in  the  habit  of  taking  advice 
from  Young  Gentlemen." — The  indignation  of 
Nelson  was  roused,  and  his  answer  was  remark- 
able :  /  have  the  honour,  Sir,  of  being  as  old  as  the 
Prime  Minister  of  England,  and  think  myself  cs 
capable  of  commanding  one  of  his  Majesty's  ships  as 
that  Minister  is  of  governing  the  State. 

Captain  Nelson  was  well  aware,  that  after  the 
ratification  of  the  Peace  in  1783,  the  Americans 
became  as  much  foreigners  as  any  other  nation; 
and  therefore,  by  the  12th  of  Charles  the  Second, 
which  said,  "  That  no  foreigners,  directly  or  in- 
directly, shall  have  any  trade  or  intercourse  with 
his  Majesty's  West  India  islands;  the  ships  to  be 


76 

British  built,  and  navigated  at  least  by  'three- 
fourths  British  Seamen;" — he  on  that  authority, 
notwithstanding  the  message  he  had  received 
from  the  governor,  and  the  powerful  opposition 
that  was  forming  against  his  individual  exertions, 
ordered  all  American  vessels  to  quit  the  Islands 
in  forty-eight  hours;  and  declared,  that  in  case 
of  refusal,  or  their  presuming  to  land  their  car- 
goes, he  would  seize  and  prosecute  them  in  the 
court  of  admiralty. 

Thus  did  the  astonishing  capacity  of  Captain 
Nelson,  with  that  firmness  which  denotes  a 
great  mind,  at  once  discern  how  deeply  and 
dangerously  the  best  and  dearest  interests  of 
his  Country  would  be  affected  by  the  infraction 
of  our y  inalienable  Naval  Rights ;  not  only  sanc- 
tioned by  our  navigation  acts,  but  established  by 
the  law  of  nations.  He  determined,  therefore,  to 
continue  his  utmost  exertions,  whilst  he  remained 
on  that  Station,  in  checking  the  illicit  trade  then 
carrying  on  between  the  United  States  and  our 
islands  in  the  West  Indies,  in  vessels  belonging 
principally  to  the  Americans.  Without  any  other 
information,  he  knew  generally,  that  its  Naviga- 
tion Acts  did  no  more  than  adapt  government  to 
the  circumstances  of  this  Country  and  its  Colo- 
nies. Experience  taught  him,  that  pursuing  the 
wise  policy  of  this  system,  our  naval  strength  had 
advanced  to  that  greatness  of  which  he  was  a 

y  From  the  notes  of  the  Right  Hon.  George  Rose. 


77 

most  competent  witness;  and  he  had,  within  his 
own  observation,  evident  proofs  of  the  evils  that 
would  arise,  as  well  to  our  commerce,  as  our 
shipping,  by  pursuing  a  different  line  of  con- 
duct. Since  on  board  almost  every  vessel  that 
was  stopped  under  his  orders,  were  found  large 
quantities  of  the  manufactures  of  other  nations, 
intended  for  the  supply  of  our  islands. 

Actuated  by  the  strong  z impression  made  on 
him  by  these  considerations,  he  adopted  very 
effectual  means  for  preventing  evils  of  so  much 
magnitude;  taking  upon  himself,  thereby,  a  se- 
vere and  extensive  responsibility,  and  certainly 
without  sufficient  light  to  have  guided  almost 
any  other  man  in  the  same  situation.  With  the 
public  interest  always  in  view,  he  never  thought 
of  personal  consequences;  and  with  an  intelli- 
gence, spirit,  and  energy,  almost  peculiar  to 
himself,  he  checked  the  mischievous  practices, 
which  have  been  alluded  to,  by  repeated  seizures, 
at  the  risk  of  damages  and  expenses  that  might 
have  involved  him  in  ruin.  His  judgment,  how- 
ever, proved  to  be  equal  to  his  zeal. 

In  the  mean  time,  the  Americans,  who  had  so 
considerably  profited  by  this  intercourse,  en- 
couraged by  their  friends  on  shore,  as  well  as  by 
the  Collectors  and  Comptrollers  of  the  different 
customs  of  the  islands,  resisted  the  threats  and 
orders  of  Captain  Nelson. 

z  From  the  notes  of  the  Right  Hon.  G.  Rose. 


78 

The  innumerable  difficulties  under  which  he 
had  long  laboured,  now  continually  increased. 
The  Planters  were  to  a  man  decidedly  hostile  to  his 
conduct.  The  Governors  and  Presidents  of  the 
islands  gave  him  no  support;  and  the  Admiral, 
wavering  between  both  parties,  and  having  no 
decided  opinion,  merely  addressed  a  memoran- 
dum to  Captain  Nelson,  advising  him,  "  to  be 
guided  by  the  wishes  of  the  presidents  of  the  coun- 
cil,"  which  not  being  an  Order,  the  intrepid  com- 
mander of  the  Boreas  steadily  pursued  his  course. 
On  the  arrival  of  the  Boreas  at  Nevis,  1785,  he 
found  four  American  vessels  there,  deeply  laden, 
and  with  what  are  termed  the  island  colours  fly- 
ing, which  are  white  with  a  red  cross.  These 
vessels  were  immediately  visited,  and  the  masters 
of  them  directed,  as  they  knew  they  were  Ameri- 
can vessels  and  had  American  cargoes  on  board, 
to  hoist  their  proper  colours  and  leave  the  island 
in  forty-eight  hours.  They  denied  being  Ameri- 
cans, and  refused  to  obey  the  orders  of  Captaiu 
Nelson.  Upon  which  an  examination  of  their 
crews  took  place  on  board  the  Boreas,  in  the 
Captain's  cabin,  and  before  the  judge  of  the  ad- 
miralty, who  happened  to  be  on  board;  when 
they  all  confessed  that  they  were  Americans, 
and  that  their  vessels  and  cargoes  were  wholly 
American  property.  They  were  accordingly  pro- 
ceeded against  in  the  court  of  admiralty  at  Nevis; 
and  notwithstanding  the  opinions  and  pleadings 
of  the  greater  part  of  the  learned  council  of  the 


79 

different  islands,  who  had  assembled  to  defend  the 
Americans — in  the  hope  of  proving  that  Captain 
Nelson,  without  a  deputation  from  the  customs, 
was  not  authorised  to  seize  the  traders;  that  great 
officer  pleaded  his  own  cause  so  ably,  and  refuted 
their  specious  arguments  so  completely,  that  the 
four  vessels  with  their  cargoes  were  condemned 
as  legal  prizes  to  the  Boreas. 

The  American  masters  on  going  ashore  with 
their  respective  followers,  were  interrogated  by 
an  attorney,  who  had  been  purposely  prepared  by 
the  cabal,  as  to  the  place,  and  the  manner,  in 
which  the  depositions  had  been  taken;  and  now 
a  new  scene  of  duplicity  ensued.  The  Masters, 
led  on  by  this  attorney,  were  induced  to  declare, 
that  when  they  gave  their  depositions  they  had 
been  put  into  bodily  fear;  for  a  man  with  a  drawn 
sword  (the  sentry  as  is  usual  at  the  cabin  door) 
had  stood  over  them  during  the  whole  proceed- 
ing. Other  similar  falsities,  equally  ridiculous, 
were  added;  and  in  consequence,  an  action  of 
damages  to  a  considerable  amount  was  imme- 

o 

diately  commenced  against  Capt.  Nelson:  owing 
to  which,  he  was  confined  to  his  cabin  for  many 
Mreeks,  Sundays  excepted.  The  Marshal  fre- 
quently came  on  board  to  arrest  him,  but  by  fair 
words,  the  first  lieutenant,  Mr.  James  Wallis,  was 
always  able  to  elude  his  vigilance. 

In  a  letter  to  Captain  Locker,  dated  March  5, 
1786,  he  entered  at  large  on  this  business;  and, 
after  some  previous  observations,  thus  described 


80 

the  delicacy  of  his  situation  with  Sir  R,  Hughes. 
. .  . <c  I  must  either  disobey  my  Orders,  or  disobey 
Acts   of   Parliament:    I   determined   upon    the 
former,  trusting  to  the  uprightness  of  my  inten- 
tions, and  believing  that  my  Country  would  not 
allow  me  to  be  ruined,  by  protecting  her  com- 
merce.  I  first  sent  to  Sir  Richard,  expatiated  on 
the  Navigation  Laws  to  the  best  of  my  ability, 
told  him  I  was  certain  some  person  had  been  giv- 
in°-  him  advice,    which  he   would  be  sorry'  for 
having  taken,  against  the  positive  directions  of 
Acts  of  Parliament ;  and  that  I  was  certain  he 
had  too  much  regard  for  the  commerce  of  Great 
Britain,  to  suffer  our  worst  enemies  to  take  it 
from  us.     At  a  time  when  Great  Britain   was 
straining  every  nerve  to  suppress  illegal  trade  at 
home,  which  only  affected  the  revenue,  I  hoped 
we  should  not  be  singular  in  allowing  a  much 
more  ruinous  traffic  to  be  carried  on  under  the 
King's  flag,  and,  in  short,  that  I  should  decline 
obeying  his  Orders,  until  I  had  an  opportunity  of 
seeing  and  talking  to  him,  at  the  same  time  mak- 
ing him  an  apology.     At  first,  I  hear  he  was  going 
to  send  an  officer  to  supersede  me;  but  having 
mentioned  the  business  to  his  Captain,  the  latter 
said,   "  he  believed  all  the  Squadron  thought  he 
had  sent  illegal  orders;  therefore  did  not  know 
how  far  they  were  obliged  to  obey  them."     This 
being  their  sentiments,  he  could  not  try  me  here; 
and  now  he  finds  I  am  right  and  thanks  me  for 
having  put  him  so. 


81 

"  I  told  the  Custom-houses,  I  should  after  such 
a  day  seize  all  foreigners  I  found  in  our  islands, 
and  I  kept  them  out  to  the  utmost  of  my  power 
until  that  time.  The  Custom-houses  fancied  I 
could  not  seize  without  a  deputation,  therefore 
disregarded  my  threats;  in  May  last  I  seized  the 
first.  I  had  the  governor,  the  customs,  all  the 
planters  upon  me:  subscriptions  were  soon  filled 
to  prosecute  me,  and  my  Admiral  stood  neuter, 
although  his  flag  was  then  in  the  roads.  Before 
the  first  vessel  M'as  tried,  I  had  seized  four  others; 
and  having:  sent  for  the  masters  on  board  to  exa- 

o 

mine  them,  and  the  marines  on  board  the  vessels 
not  allowing  some  of  these  masters  to  go  on  shore, 
I  had  suits  taken  out  against  me,  and  damages 
laid  at  the  enormous  sum  of  40,OCO/.  sterling. 
When  the  trial  came  on,  I  was  protected  by  the 
judge  for  the  day;  but  the  marshal  was  desired  to 
arrest  me,  and  the  merchants  promised  to  indem- 
nify him  for  the  act.  The  judge  however  having 
declared  he  would  send  him  to  prison  if  he  dared 
to  do  it,  he  desisted.  I  fortunately  attached  my- 
self to  an  honest  lawyer;  and,  don't  let  me  forget, 
the  President  of  Nevis  offered  in  court  to  become 
my  bail  for  10,000/.  if  I  chose  to  suffer  the  arrest; 
he  told  them  I  had  only  done  my  duty;  and  al- 
though he  suffered  more  in  proportion  than  any 
of  them,  he  could  not  blame  me.  At  last  after 
a  trial  of  two  days  we  carried  our  Cause,  and  the 
vessels  were  condemned.  I  was  a  close  prisoner 
on  board  for  eight  weeks;  for,  had  I  been  taken, 

Cr 


I  most  assuredly  should  have  been  cast  for  the 
whole  sum.  I  had  nothing  left  hut  to  send  a 
memorial  to  the  King  and  he  was  good  enough 

*-"  O  O 

to  order  me  to  he  defended  at  his  expense,  and 
sent  orders  to  General  Shirley  to  afford  me  every 
assistance  in  the  execution  of  my  duty;  referring 
him  to  my  letters,  as  there  was  contained  in  them 
what  concerned  him  not  to  have  suffered. 

"  The  Treasury,  by  the  last  packet,  transmitted 
thanks  to  Sir  Richard  Hughes  and  the  officer* 
under  him,  for  their  activity  and  zeal  in  protect- 
ing the  commerce  of  Great  Britain.  Had  they 
known  what  I  have  told  you,  and  if  my  friends 
think  I  may  without  impropriety  tell  the  story 
myself,  I  shall  do  it  when  I  get  home,  I  do  not 
think  they  would  have  bestowed  thanks  in  that 
quarter,  and  neglected  me.  I  feel  much  hurt 
that  after  the  loss  of  health  and  risk  of  fortune, 
another  should  be  thanked  for  what  I  did,  and 
against  his  orders.  I  either  deserved  to  be  sent 
out  of  the  Service,  or  at  least  to  have  had  some 
little  notice  taken  of  what  I  had  done:  They 
have  thought  it  worthy  of  notice  and  yet  have 
neglected  me.  .  .  .  But  I  have  done  my  Duty, 
and  have  nothing  to  accuse  myself  of. 

"  Most  probably  the  next  time  you  see  me  will 
be  as  a  Benedict— -I  think  Ihave  found  a  woman 
who  will  make  me  happy.  I  will  tell  you  more 
of  this  shortly,  for  my  paper  is  full.  Adieu,  my 
dear  friend;  and  believe  that  I  am,  with  the  most 
unfeigned  regard  and  esteem,  yours  faithfully." 


83 

Amidst  the  variety  of  occupation  which 
thenceforward  continued  to  harass  and  distract 
his  thoughts,  Captain  Nelson  does  not  seem  to 
have  given  his  friend  the  account  of  this  attach- 
ment which  he  had  intended.  Mrs.  Nisbet,  the 
young  and  accomplished  widow  of  Dr.  Nisbet, 
who  had  been  physician  to  the  island  of  Nevis, 
was  the  daughter  of  Mr.  Woolward,  and  had  not 
attained  her  eighteenth  year  when  she  became 
acquainted  with  Captain  Nelson.  Mrs.  Nisbet 
was  at  St.  Kitts,  when  Captain  Nelson,  in  1784, 
paid  his  first  visit  to  her  uncle  Mr.  Herbert,  the 
president  of  Nevis,  whose  liberality  at  the  trial 
of  the  Americans  has  been  mentioned;  and  a 
letter  from  a  female  friend  gave  her  the  follow- 
ing account  of  her  future  husband: 

"  We  have  at  last  seen  the  little  Captain  of  the 
Boreas,  of  whom  so  much  has  been  said.  He 
came  up  just  before  dinner,  much  heated,  and 
was  very  silent;  yet  seemed,  according  to  the 
old  adage,  to  think  the  more.  He  declined 
drinking  any  wine;  but  after  dinner  Avhen  the 
president  as  usual  gave  the  three  following 
toasts,  the  King,  the  Queen  and  Royal  Family, 
and  Lord  Hood,  this  strange  man  regularly  filled 
his  glass,  and  observed  that  those  were  always 
bumper  toasts  with  him;  which  having  drank, 
he  uniformly  passed  the  bottle  and  relapsed 
into  his  former  taciturnity.  It  was  impossible, 
during  this  visit,  for  any  of  us  to  make  out  his 
real  character;  there  was  such  a  reserve  and 


84 

sternness  in  his  behaviour,  with  occasional  sal- 
lies though  very  transient  of  a  superior  mind. 
Being  placed  by  him,  I  endeavoured  to  rouse  his 
attention  by  shewing  him  all  the  civilities  in  my 
power;  but  I  drew  out  little  more  than  Yes  and 
No.  If  you,  Fanny,  had  been  there,  we  think 
you  would  have  made  something  of  him;  for  you 
have  been  in  the  habits  of  attending  to  these 
odd  sort  of  people." 

The  following  letter,  so  honourable  to  his  cha- 
racter, is  one  of  the  first  that  was  addressed  to 
Mrs.  Nisbet:  "  Boreas,  English  Harbour,  Sep- 
tember 11,  1/85.  I  had  buoyed  myself  up  with 
hopes,  that  the  Admiral's  schooner  would  have 
given  me  a  line  from  you;  but  the  tidings  she 
brought  of  the  release  of  poor  Mrs.  Herbert  from 
this  world,  sufficiently  apologise  for  your  not 
thinking  of  an  absentee.  Yet  this  believe  from 
my  heart,  that  I  partake  in  all  the  sorrows  you 
experience;  and  I  comfort  myself  that  however 
great  your  grief  at  this  moment  may  be,  at 
losing  a  person  who  was  so  deservedly  dear  to 
you,  as  your  good  aunt,  yet  when  reason  takes 
place,  you  must  rather  have  pleasure  in  knowing 
she  is  released  from  those  torments,  she  had 
undergone  for  months  past.  Time  ever  has, 
and  in  the  present  instance  I  trust  may  have 
a  tendency  to  soften  grief  into  a  pleasing 
remembrance,  and  her  unspotted  character  must 
afford  you  real  comfort.  Call  Religion  to  your 
aid;  and  it  will  convince  you  that  her  conduct 


85 

in  this  world,  was  such  as  insures  everlasting  hap- 
piness in  that  which  is  to  come. 

"  I  have  received  a  letter  from  Mr.  Herbert, 
in  answer  to  that  which  I  left  at  Nevis  for  him. 
My  greatest  wish  is  to  be  united  to  you;  and  the 
foundation  of  all  conjugal  happiness,  real  love 
and  esteem,  is  I  trust  what  you  believe  I  possess 
in  the  strongest  degree  towards  you.  I  think 
Mr.  Herbert  loves  you  too  well  not  to  let  you 
marry  the  man  of  your  choice,  although  he  may 
not  be  so  rich  as  some  others,  provided  his  cha- 
racter and  situation  in  life  render  such  a  union 
eligible.  I  declare  solemnly,  that  did  I  not  con- 
ceive 1  had  the  full  possession  of  your  heart,  no 
consideration  should  make  me  accept  your  hand. 
We  know  that  riches  do  not  always  insure  happi- 
ness; and  the  world  is  convinced  that  I  am  supe- 
rior to  pecuniary  considerations  in  my  public  and 
private  life,  as  in  both  instances  I  might  have 
been  rich. — But  I  will  have  done,  leaving  all  my 
present  feelings  to  operate  in  your  breast;  only 
of  this  truth  be  convinced,  that  I  am  your  affec- 
tionate Horatio  Nelson." 

On  the  3d  of  March,  1786,  when  off  the  island 
of  Deseada,  he  addressed  the  following  letter  to 
Mrs.  Nisbet;  which,  together  with  the  sincerity 
of  his  attachment,  displays  his  religious  turn 
of  mind  and  affectionate  fraternal  disposition: 
"  Separated  from  you  what  pleasure  can  I  feel? 
none,  be  assured :  All  my  happiness  is  centred 
with  thee,  and  where  thou  art  not,  there  I  am  not 


liappy.  Every  day,  hour,  and  act,  convince  me 
of  it.  With  my  heart  filled  with  the  purest  and 
most  tender  affection,  do  I  write  this;  for  were  it 
not  so,  you  know  me  well  enough  to  be  certain, 
that  even  at  this  moment  I  would  tell  you  of  it. 
I  daily  thank  God,  who  ordained  that  I  should  be 
attached  to  you.  He  has,  I  firmly  believe,  in- 
tended it  as  a  blessing-  to  me,  and  I  am  well 
convinced  you  will  not  disappoint  his  beneficent 
intentions,  Fortune,  that  is  money,  is  the  only 
thing  I  regret  the  want  of,  and  that  only  for  the 
sake  of  my  affectionate  Fanny.  But  the  Al- 
mighty who  brings  us  together,  will,  I  doubt 
not,  take  ample  care  of  us  and  prosper  all  our 
undertakings.  No  dangers  shall  deter  me  from 
pursuing  every  honourable  means  of  providing 
handsomely  for  you,  and  yours;  and  again  let  me 
repeat,  that  my  dear  Josiah  shall  ever  be  consi- 
dered by  me  as  one  of  my  own.  That  Omnipo- 
tent Being  who  sees  and  knows  what  passes  in 
all  hearts,  knows  what  I  have  written  to  be  my 
undisguised  sentiments  towards  the  little  fellow." 
In  order  to  support  himself  against  the  swann 
of  open  and  concealed  Enemies,  which  his  con- 
scientious attention  to  his  professional  Duty  had 
brought  upon  him,  and  to  which  he  alludes  in  his 
letters  to  Mrs.  Nisbet,he  had  employed  every  pru- 
dential means  which  the  then  limited  circle  of  his 
political  connexions  in  England  afforded.  Besides 
Lis  memorial  to  the  King  on  this  subject,  he  had 
represented  the  whole  of  these  transactions,  with 


the  conduct  of  the  different  officers  of  the  reve- 
nue in  the  West  India  islands,  to  the  then  Secre- 
tary of  State;  and  had  suggested  to  him  the  only 
mode  that  could  he  adopted,  to  remove  every 
shadow  of  pretence  for  the  intercourse  of  the 
Americans  with  these  islands  to  the  general  pre- 
judice of  British  subjects,  as  well  as  the  autho- 
rity that  should  be  given  to  Officers  of  the 
Navy  to  seize  all  illicit  traders,  without  being 
deputed  by  the  officers  of  the  customs  and  the 
excise.  The  step  he  recommended  government 
to  take  was,  to  change  the  registers  of  all  vessels; 
and  he  also  proposed  many  other  similar  im- 
provements and  commercial  regulations  con- 
nected with  our  West  India  trade,  which  form 
the  act  that  was  passed  under  the  appellation  of 
the  Register  Act,  i  the  judicious  restrictions  of 
which  have  materially  contributed  to  our  naval 
superiority.  By  this  act  it  was  amongst  other 
things  established,  "  That  after  the  first  day  of 
August,  1786,  no  vessel  should  be  accounted 
British,  unless  she  were  built  in  the  British  domi- 
nions, or  taken  as  a  prize.  Every  vessel  was 
ordered  to  have  her  name,  with  that  of  the  port 
she  belonged  to,  conspicuously  painted  on  her 
stern;  and  a  register  to  be  taken  out,  wherein, 
amongst  other  things,  should  be  mentioned  the 
names  of  the  owners,  who  were  all  to  reside  in 

*  26  Geo.  III.  c.  60,  entitled  An  Act  for  the  further  increase 
and  encouragement  of  Shipping  and  Navigation. 


88 

• 
* 

the  British  dominions,  unless  some  of  them  were 
members  of  British  factories  abroad.  No  ship 
built  in  the  United  States  of  America,  during  the 
existence  of  any  prohibitory  acts,  was  entitled  to 
be  registered  unless  an  especial  order  to  the 
contrary  was  issued  by  the  privy  council,  in  con- 
sequence of  services  rendered  to  the  public  by  its 
owners." — But  the  whole  of  this  act, b  as  origi- 
nating in  the  judgment  of  this  zealous  officer,  is 
M*ell  worthy  of  attention;  and,  with  other  acts  of 
a  similar  nature,  demands  the  minute  investiga- 
tion of  professional  men  in  the  navy. 

Whilst  Captain  Nelson  was  so  long  confined  to 
his  ship  by  the  shameful  prosecution  that  had 
been  allowed  to  be  instituted  against  him,  some 
one  of  his  indignant  officers,  when  in  conversa- 
tion, happened  to  use  the  word  Pity — Pity!  ex- 
claimed Nelson,  Pity,  did  you  say?  I  shall  live, 
Sir,  to  be  envied;  and  to  that  point  I  shall  always 
direct  my  course. 

The  following  letter  to  Mrs.  Nisbet  is  de- 
scriptive of  his  character,  and  is  dated  "  Bo- 
reas, May  4,  1786,  Barbarous  Island. — Never, 
never,  do  1  believe,  shall  I  get  away  from  this 
detestable  spot:  Had  I  not  seized  any  Ameri- 
cans, I  should  now  have  been  with  you:  But  I 
should  have  neglected  my  duty,  which  I  think 
your  regard  for  me- is  too  great  for  you  to  have 

b  Four  copies  of  this  Act  were  amongst  Lord  Nelson's  papers, 
and  also  two  copies  of  the  act  26  Geo.  III.  c.  40.  entitled,  an  Act 
for  regulating  the  production  of  manifests,  &c. 


89 

wished  me  to  have  done — Duty  is  the  great  busi- 
ness of  a  Sea  Officer.  All  private  considerations 
must  give  way  to  it,  however  painful  it  may  be. 
I  trust  that  time  will  not  have  lessened  me  in  the 
opinion  of  her,  whom  it  shall  be  the  business  of 
my  future  life  to  make  happy. — Bless  you,  bless 
you.  Ever,  with  the  -greatest  affection,  your 
Horatio  Nelson.' 

About  the  month  of  July,  1786',  Admiral  Sir 
Richard  Hughes,  being  recalled,  was  directed  to 
deliver  up  his  command  to  Captain  Nelson;  who 
was  the  senior  officer  then  left  on  that  station. 

The  following  letter  displays  the  exquisite 
sensibility  of  his  feelings,  and  also  forcibly  marks 
how  much  his  mind  had  been  harassed  by  a  con- 
scientious discharge  of  his  professional  duty. 
"  Boreas,  English  Harbour,  August  i£f//,  1786. 
My  dearest  1'anny :  Having  seen  in  this  day's 
newspaper  that  a  vessel  cleared  out  from  St. 
John's  to  Nevis  a  few  days  ago,  I  feel  vexed  not 
to  have  had  a  letter  in  the  office  for  you  :  how- 
ever, if  I  can  help  it,  I  will  not  be  behind-hand, 
again.  To  write  letters  to  you,  i8  the  next 
greatest  pleasure  I  feel  to  receiving  them  from 
you,  What  I  experience  when  I  read  such  as  I 
am  sure  are  the  pure  sentiments  of  your  heart, 
my  poor  pen  cannot  express ;  nor  indeed  would  t 
give  much  for  any  pen  or  head  that  could  describe 
feelings  of  that  kind;  they  are  worth  but  little 
when  that  can  happen.  My  heart  yearns  to  you, 
it  is  with  you,  my  mind  dwells  upon  nought  else 


90 

but  you.  Absent  from  you  I  feel  no  pleasure,  it 
is  you,  my  dearest  Fanny,  who  arc  every  thing  to 
me.  Without  you  I  care  not  for  this  world,  for 
I  have  found  lately  nothing  in  it  but  vexation  and 
trouble. 

"  These,  you  are  well  convinced,  are  my  pre- 
sent sentiments,  God  Almighty  grant  they  may 
never  change.  Nor  do  I  think  they  will:  indeed 
there  is,  as  far  as  human  knowledge  can  judge,  a 
moral  certainty  they  cannot;  for  it  must  be  real 
affection  that  brings  us  together,  not  interest  or 
compulsion  which  makes  so  many  unhappy.  As 
you  begin  to  know  something  about  Sailors,  have 
you  not  often  heard  that  salt  water  and  absence 
always  wash  away  love?  Now  I  am  such  a  here- 
tic as  not  to  believe  that  faith,  for  behold,  every 
morning  since  my  arrival,  I  have  had  six  pails  of 
salt  water  at  day-light  poured  upon  my  head,  and 
instead  of  finding  what  the  Seamen  say  to  be  true, 
I  perceive  the  contrary  effect;  and  if  it  goes  on. 
$o  contrary  to  the  prescription,  you  must  see  me 
before  my  fixed  time.  At  first  I  bore  absence 
tolerably,  but  now  it  is  almost  insupportable;  and 
by  and  by  I  expect  it  will  be  quite  so.  But  pa- 
tience is  a  virtue,  and  I  must  exercise  it  upon  this 
occasion  whatever  it  costs  my  feelings.  I  am 
alone  in  the  Commanding  Officer's  house  while 
my  ship  is  fitting,  and  from  sun-set  until  bed 
time  I  have  not  a  human  creature  to  speak  to; 
you  will  feel  a  little  for  me  I  think.  I  did  not 
use  to  be  over  fond  of  sitting  alone.  The  mo- 


91 

ment  old  Boreas  is  habitable  in  my  cabin,  I  shall 
fly  to  it  to  avoid  mosquitoes  and  c  melancholies." 
His  feelings  were  at  this  time'  much  hurt,  at 
not  receiving  any  thanks  or  approbation  from 
our  government  at  home:  He  alludes  to  this  in 

o 

a  letter  to  Captain  Locker,  dated  Boreas,  Eng- 
lish Harbour,  Sept.  27,  1786.  "  It  is  an  age  since 
I  had  the  pleasure  of  hearing  from  you,  yet  be 
assured,  my  good  friend,  that  my  gratitude  for 
the  many  favours  I  have  constantly  received, 
does  not  fail;  no,  they  are  fresh  in  my  remem- 
brance.— If  you  got  my  letter  from  Barbadoes  in 
May  last  (I  ought  to  be  ashamed  of  the  date) 
you  will  have  some  idea  of  my  troubles.  Nor 
wilt  they  ever  end,  as  I  plainly  perceive,  while  I 
am  in  this  country.  This  must  always  be  the 
case,  where  officers  neglect  their  duty;  then 
rogues  thrive,  and  certainly  there  is  not  a  cus- 
tom-house officer,  governor,  &c.  that  I  have  met 
with,  M'ho  has  done  his  duty  ;  therefore  the  latter 
party  is  kept  up  and  my  hands  remain  full  of 
business.  It  is  not  more  strange  than  true,  that 
I  was  not  only  obliged  to  support  myself  against 
the  most  violent  prosecutions  that  could  be  laid 
against  an  officer,  but  instead  of  being  supported 
by.  my  Admiral,  I  was  obliged  to  keep  him  up, 
for  he  was  frightened  at  this  business;  which,  al- 
though I  hope  it  is  now  completed,  he  appeared 

c  All  these  letters  to  Mrs.  Nisbet,  before  her  marriage  with 
Captain  Nelson,  have  been  furnished  by  Mrs,  Ross,  her  Lady- 
ship's relation. 


.      92 

ready  I  thought,  when  he  got  home,  to  receive 
any  thanks  that  might  be  offered  him  for  his 
alertness  and  attention  to  the  Navigation  of 
Great  Britain.  God  knows,  I  envy  no  man's 
praises;  but  don't  let  them  take  what  is  due  to 
others.  I  have  been  since  June  so  very  ill,  until 
lately,  that  I  have  only  a  faint  recollection  of 
any  thing  which  I  did.  My  complaint  was  in  my 
breast,  such  a  one  as  I  had  going  out  to  Ja- 
maica. The  doctors  thought  I  was  in  a  consump- 
tion, and  gave  me  quite  up :  but  that  Great  Being 
who  has  so  often  raised  me  from  the  sick  bed,  has 
once  more  restored  me  and  to  that  health  which 
I  very  seldom  enjoy." 

This  indefatigable  servant  of  his  Country  now 
turned  his  mind  towards  correcting  the  abuses  in 
the  dock-yard  at  Antigua,  as  Avell  as  amongst  the 
contractors,  prize  agents,  Greenwich  hospital 
money,  &c.  which,  both  on  this  station  and  on 
his  return  home,  he  pursued  with  his  usual  ar- 
dour. But  in  the  progress  and  accomplishment 
of  this  great  national  service,  on  which  his  mind 
was  now  so  constantly  employed,  he  was  during 
the  month  of  November,  1786',  joined  and  sup- 
ported by  his  Royal  Highness  Prince  William 
Henry,  Captain  of  the  Pegasus. d  The  friendship 
that  had  before  subsisted  between  these  illus- 


*  His  Royal  Highness  arrived  in  November,  1786,  on  the 
Leeward  Islnnd  station  from  Halifax  in  Nova  Scotia,  which 
place  he  bad  reached  on  the  8th  of  October. 


93 

trious  Seamen,  had  been  kept  up  by  an  occa- 
sional correspondence ;  and  they  now  formed 
that  permanent  regard  for  each  other,  which 
became  so  highly  honourable  and  beneficial  to 
both.  From  the  month  of  November,  1786*,  to 
the  end  of  the  spring  in  1787,  when  the  Prince 
went  down  to  Jamaica,  his  Royal  Highness  and 
Captain  Nelson  dined  alternately  with  each 
other.  "It  was  this  era,  as  his  Royal  Highness 
acknowledges,  e  that  first  formed  his  character 
as  a  naval  officer,  and  was  employed  in  a  manner 
highly  gratifying  to  his  feelings.  It  was  then, 
added  the  Prince,  that  I  particularly  observed  the 
greatness  of  Nelson's  superior  mind.  The  man- 
ner in  which  he  enforced  the  spirit  of  the  Navi- 
gation Act,  first  drew  my  attention  to  the  com- 
mercial interests  of  my  Country.  We  visited  the 
different  Islands  together,  and  as  much  as  the 
manoeuvres  of  Fleets  can  be  described  off  the 
headlands  of  Islands,  we  fought  over  again  the 
principal  naval  actions  in  the  American  war.  Ex- 
cepting the  naval  tuition  which  I  had  received  on 
board  the  Prince  George,  when  the  present  Rear 
Admiral  Sir  R.  G.  Keats,  K.  B.  was  lieutenant  of 
her,  and  for  whom  both  of  us  equally  entertained 
a  sincere  regard,  my  mind  took  its  first  decided 
naval  turn  from  this  familiar  intercourse  with 
Nelson." 

«  From  minutes  of  conversation  whh  his  Royal  Highness  the 
Duke  of  Clarence, 


94 

The  high  opinion  which  Nelson  entertained 
of  Prince  William  Henry,  is  fully  marked  in 
a  letter,  to  Captain  Locker,  dated  English  Har- 
bour, December  QQth,  1786.  "  You  must  have 
heard  Ions:  before  this  reaches  you,  that  Prince 

C7  •/  ' 

William  is  under  my  command:  I  shall  endeavour 
to  take  care  that  he  is  not  a  loser  hy  that  circum- 
stance. He  has  his  foibles,  as  well  as  private  men, 
but  they  are  far  overbalanced  by  his  virtues.  In 
his  professional  line  he  is  superior  to  near  two 
thirds,  I  am  sure,  of  the  list,  and  in  attention  to 
orders  and  respect  to  his  superior  officer,  I  hardly 
know  his  equal — this  is  what  I  have  found  him." 
On  the  first  day  of  the  new  year,  1/87,  in 
which  his  marriage  took  place,  the  correspond- 
ence with  Mrs.  Nisbet  is  thus  continued.  "  What 
is  it  to  attend  on  Princes?  let  me  attend  on  you 
and  I  am  satisfied.  Some  are  born  for  attendants 
on  great  men,  I  rather  think  that  is  not  my  par- 
ticular province.  His  Royal  Highness  often  tells 
me  he  believes  I  am  married,  for  he  never  saw  a 
lover  so  easy,  or  say  so  little  of  the  object  he  has 
a  regard  for:  When  I  tell  him  I  certainly  am  not, 
he  says,  "  Then  he  is  sure  I  must  have  a  great 
esteem  for  you,  and  that  it  is  not  what  is  (vul- 
garly) I  do  not  much  like  the  use  of  that  word, 
called  love."  He  is  right,  my  love  is  founded 
on  esteem,  the  only  foundation  that  can  make 
the  passion  last.  I  need  not  tell  you,  what  you 
so  well  know,  that  I  wish  I  had  a  fortune  to  settle 
on  you;  but  I  trust  I  have  a  Good  Name,  and  that 


95 

certain  events  will  bring  the  other  thing  about, 
it  is  my  misfortune,  not  my  fault.  You  can  marry 
me  only  from  a  sincere  affection ;  therefore  I 
ought  to  make  you  a  good  husband,  and  I  hope 
it  will  turn  out  that  I  shall.  You  are  never 
absent  from  my  mind  in  any  place  or  company. 
I  never  wished  for  riches  but  to  give  them  to 
you;  and  my  small  share  shall  be  yours  to  the 
extreme.  A  happy  new  year!  and  that  many  of 
them  may  attend  you,  is  the  most  fervent  wish 
of  your  affectionate  Horatio  Nelson." 

"  Boreas,  Montserat,  Feb.  11.  I  anticipate 
with  pleasure  our  meeting,  for  never  do  I  feel 
truly  happy  when  separated  from  you.  Length 
of  time  often,  too  often,  gives  proof  of  the  fail- 
ings of  human  nature,  and  how  difficult  it  is  to  be 
perfect;  you  have  given  me  a  proof  that  your 
goodness  increases  by  time.  These  I  trust  will 
ever  be  my  sentiments;  if  they  are  not,  I  do 
verily  believe  it  will  be  my  folly  that  occasions 
it.  Never  think  otherwise,  than  that  I  am  in 
the  fullest  sense  of  the  word  most  affectionately 
your  Horatio  Nelson." 

The  marriage  of  Captain  Nelson  and  the  ac- 
complished Frances  Herbert  Nisbet,  at  length 
took  place  in  a  very  private  manner  at  Nevis, 
on  the  llth  of  March,  1787.  The  bride  was 
given  away  by  his  Royal  Highness,  who  with 
many  others  congratulated  their  friend  in  hav- 
ing borne  off  the  principal  favourite  of  the  island. 
An  early  opportunity  was  taken  to  inform  Cap- 


96 

tain  Locker  of  this  long-wished-for  event:  "  Bo- 
reas, on  her  passage  to  Tortola,  March  21,  1787. 
My  time  since  November,  my  dear  friend,  has 
been  entirely  taken  up  in  attending  the  Prince 
on  his  tour  round  these  Islands.  However,  ex- 
cept Granada,  this  is  the  last;  when  I  shall  repair 
to  English  Harbour  and  fit  the  Boreas  for  a 
voyage  to  England*  Happy  shall  I  be  when  that 
time  arrives.  No  man  has  had  more  illness,  or 
trouble  on  a  station  than  I  have  experienced; 
but  let  me  lay  a  balance  on  the  other  side — I  am 
married  f  to  an  amiable  Woman,  that  far  makes 
amends  for  every  thing.  Indeed,  until  I  mar- 
ried her,  I  never  knew  happiness,  and  I  am 
morally  certain  she  will  continue  to  make  me  a 
happy  man  for  the  rest  of  my  days.  I  shall  have 
great  pleasure  in  introducing  you  to  her.  Prince 
William  did  me  the  honour  to  stand  her  father 
upon  the  occasion;  and  has  shewn  every  act  of 
kindness,  that  the  most  sincere  friendship  could 
bestow.  His  Royal  Highness  leaves  this  country 
in  June,  by  which  time  I  hope  my  orders  will 
arrive,  or  that  somebody  will  be  appointed  to 
the  command.  The  wonder  to  me  is,  that  any 
independent  man  will  accept  it,  for  there  is  no- 
thing pleasant  to  be  got  by  it.  Farewell,  my 
dear  Sir,  and  believe  me  to  be  ever  your  affec- 
tionate Horatio  Nelson." 

*  Hii  sister  had  just  before  this  been  married,  February  26th., 
to  George  Matcham,  Esq.  at  Batb. 


97 

There  were,  however,  some  of  his  brother 
officers,  who  feared  lest  so  early  a  marriage 
might  abate  the  Enterprise  and  Patriotism  of 
their  friend;  and  their  apprehensions  on  this  oc- 
casion, form  an  additional  proof  of  the  great 
expectation  which  professional  men  then  enter- 
tained of  his  future  eminence.  It  was  the 
remark  of  his  and  Mrs.  Nisbet's  intimate  ac- 
quaintance, the  late  brave  Capt.  Pringle,  g  when 
he  met  one  of  the  Commodore's  officers,  on  the 
day  after  his  marriage — The  Nacyt  Sir,  yester- 
day lost  one  of  its  greatest  ornaments,  by  Nelson's 
marriage.  It  is  a  national  loss  that  such  an  officer 

O  «f 

should  marry :  had  it  not  been  for  that  circum- 
stance, I  foresaw  that  Nelson  would  become  the 
greatest  man  in  the  service.  But  this  excellent 
officer  did  not  sufficiently  know  the  woman 
whom  Captain  Nelson  had  married:  she  pos- 
sessed all  the  attractions  of  her  sex,  with  a 
sound  judgment,  and  a  cultivated  understand- 
ing. And  her  husband  often  declared,  as  many 
of  his  followers  have  asserted,  that  he  considered 
this  marriage  of  equal  service  to  his  character, 
as  any  naval  exploit  he  had  accomplished.  No 
step  was  ever  taken,  nor  tiny  letter  despatched, 
without  first  being  submitted  to  the  opinion  of 
this  respected  counsellor., 

That  neither  his  professional  zeal  nor  ardent 
patriotism  were  abated  by  the  above  event,  is 
evident  from  some  letters  that  were  found 

g  Who  died  an  Admiral  in  Scotland. 
H 


amongst  his  papers,  addressed  to  Sir  C.  Middle- 
ton,  now  Lord  Barham,  and  to  the  late  Duke  of 
Richmond;  which  prove  how  much  Captain  Nel- 
son was  afterwards  harassed,  hy  resolutely  perse- 
vering in  the  detection  of  public  frauds  in  the 
West  India  Islands. 

*  I  enclose  you  the  accounts  of  the  fraud  from 

March  to  June,  1782 It  will  be  necessary  I 

should  tell  you  who  these  gentlemen  are,  that 
have  given  the  information :  they  were  the  part- 
ners of **  Mr.  W.  is  a  very  shrewd 

sensible  man.  Mr.  H.  is  likewise  a  man  of  busi- 
ness. W.  has  been  in  various  departments  of 
government)  in  St.  Lucia,  Barbadocs,  &c.  and 
assures  me,  he  can  discover  all  the  frauds  com- 
mitted there,  as  easy  as  these,  if  government 
think  proper  to  reward  them.  Indeed  they  do 
not  seem  to  be  playing  the  fool;  for  if  nothing  is 
recovered  they  desire  nothing,  and  of  what  is 
actually  recovered,  only  a  certain  per  centage. ' 

The  following  is  the  letter*  which   he  sent  to 

Cl 

the  Duke  of  Richmond,  on  that  subject.  "  My 
Lord,  the  subject  of  this  letter  will,  I  trust,  ren- 
der all  apologies  unnecessary  for  my  addressing 
myself  to  you.  A  few  days  ago,  Mr.  H.  and  W. 
merchants  in  the  island  of  Antigua,  came  to  Eng- 
lish Harbour,  to  communicate  to  his  Royal  High- 
ness, and  myself,  that  they  were  privy  to  great 
frauds  which  had  been  committed  upon  govern- 
ment  The  Ordnance  being  in  your  Grace's 

department,    I  shall  not  trouble  you  with   any 


99 

other,  but  be  as  explicit  as  I  am  able.  As  his 
Royal  Highness  could  not  attend  to  this  business, 
he  desired  me  to  make  the  necessary  inquiries, 
and  to  take  such  steps  as  I  should  think  proper. 
....  These  gentlemen,  as  will  appear  by  the  en- 
closed letters,  are  not  publishers  of  this  fraud 
merely  for  the  honour  of  serving  the  public ; 
interest  has  its  weight.  I  send  you  an  account 
of  one  quarter's  fraud,  and  I  examined  several  in 
the  books:  but  they  declined  my  having  more, 
until  they  were  satisfied  government  would  re- 
ward them  in  proportion  to  the  frauds  discovered. 
As  a  man,  who  has  more  than  once  stood  forward 
to  detect  and  bring  to  punishment  those  \vho  are 
guilty  of  defrauding  the  public,  I  may  venture  to 

express  myself  freely In  Antigua,  in  the 

different  departments,  at  least  they  say  300,  OOO/; 
at  St.  Lucia  as  much;  at  Barbadoes  not  far  short;  . 
and  at  Jamaica,  upwards  of  a  million.     What  of 
this  may  be  recovered,  if  any,  I  know  not:  how- 
ever, this  good  effect  it  surely  will  have,  that  of 
preventing  the  like  in  future. 

*  Probably  by  the  time  your  Grace  receives  this 
letter,theBoreas  will  have sai  led  forEngland,  where 
I  shall  ever  be  ready  togive  your  Grace  any  infor- 
mation you  may  wish  to  receive.  But  there  is  one' 
observation,  which  I  beg  leave  to  make :  It  will  be 
said, "Vouchers are  produced, and  merchantshave 
attested  that  they  are  at  the  market-price:"  In 
this  country  the  market-price  is  what  an  article 
will  sell  for;  and  there  is  no  merchant  here,  but 


100 

will  declare,  that  in  signing  Vouchers  for  each 
other,  they  never  look  at  the  article,  saying,  A 
thing  is  always  worth  what  it  will  bring  :  therefore 
Vouchers  are,  my  Lord,  no  check  in  this  country. 
I  have  the  honour  to  remain,  &c.' 

Such  were  the  unwearied  and  successful  exer- 
tions of  the  renowned  and  envied  Captain  of  the 
Boreas;  who,  even  in  a  time  of  peace,  opened  a 
series  of  intrepid  Duty,  by  which  he  might  estab- 
lish the  solid  foundation  of  his  future  eminence. 
It  was  thus  that  this  great  officer  raised  himself 
into  public  notice,  without  the  adventitious  aid 
of  Interest.  The  great  connexions  which  he 
gradually  formed,  were  brought  on  by  an  admi- 
ration of  his  extraordinary  merit;  they  had  nei- 
ther been  solicited  with  abject  flattery,  nor  were 
they  preserved  by  any  mean  subserviency. 

The  dignity  with  which  Captain  Nelson  sup- 
ported the  character  of  Senior  Officer  on  the  Lee- 
ward Island  Station,  under  many  circumstances 
new  and  unprecedented,  will  be  long  remem- 
bered by  all  who  had  the  honour  to  serve  under 
him  during  that  period  ;  for  no  Commander  ever 
studied  more  to  render  the  station  agreeable  to 
to  all  classes,  of  officers  and  men,  than  he  uni- 
formly did.  During  the  term  of  three  years 
that  Captuin  Nelson  commanded  the  Boreas  in 
the  West  Indies,  not  a  single  officer  or  man  died 
out  of  her  whole  complement;  a  similar  circum- 
stance of  good  health  can  scarcely  be  produced. 
The  mode  he  adopted  was  as  follows.  He  never 


101 

suffered  the  ship  to  remain  longer  than  three  or 
four  days  in  any  island  at  a  time ;  the  Boreas  was 
always  on  the  wing,  and  when  it  happened  that 
any  other  ships  were  in  company,  Captain  Nelson 
was  continually  forming  the  line,  exercising  the 
men,  and  chasing.  In  the  hurricane  months, 
when  he  was  obliged  to  renain  at  anchor  in  Eng- 
lish Harbour,  he  encouraged  music,  dancing,  and 
cudgelling,  on  board;  and  the  officers,  particu- 
larly the  younger  ones,  acted  plays,  which  kept 
up  the  spirits  of  the  ship's  company,  and  caused 
their  minds  to  be  constantly  employed. 

The  Boreas  sailed  for  England,  in  the  month 
of  June,  1787.  The  first  step  which  he  seems  to 
have  taken  after  his  arrival,  respecting  his  pro- 
ceedings in  the  West  Indies,  was  an  immediate 
communication  with  Mr.  Pitt;  to  which  in  a  few 
days  the  following  answer  was  returned  from  that 
Minister's  private  Secretary,  Mr.  Smith,  dated 
"  Downing  street,  31  July,  1787- — Sir,  I  am 
desired  by  Mr.  Pitt  to  acquaint  you,  that  he  has 
received  the  favour  of  your  letter  of  the  26th 
instant;  and  that  the  papers,  which  you  have  had 
the  goodness  to  transmit,  are  now  under  the  con- 
sideration of  the  Board  of  Treasury." 

On  the  16th  of  August,  Sir  Charles  Middleton 
sent  to  Sheerness  the  following  encouragement 
and  directions  to  Captain  Nelson,  in  answer  to 
his  previous  communication. — "  Sir,  Taking  it 
for  granted  that  the  Boreas  would  have  been  paid 
off  soon  after  her  arrival,  I  waited  your  being  in 


102 

town,  to  acknowledge  the  receipt  of  the  accounts 
you  sent  me  relative  to  the  naval  officer's  de- 
partment at  Antigua.  As  the  subject  of  your 
letter  required  much  consideration  how  to  act, 
and  at  the  same  time  precaution  to  securethe 
evidence  you  had  pointed  out,  I  took  the  op- 
portunity of  the  packet,  then  ready  to  sail,  to 
desire  you  would  use  every  means  in  your  power 
to  bring  forward  the  evidences;  relying  on  the 
Navy  Board  to  recompense  any  services  they 
may  render  the  public  by  their  information.  I 
thought  it  necessary  too,  as  the  Commissioners  of 
Inquiry  were  employed  at  the  time  your  letter 
arrived,  in  investigating  the  busiriess*of  the  Navy 
Office,  to  lay  the  information  before  them ;  and 
soon  afterwards  I  had  a  note  from  Lord  Howe, 
who,  I  found,  had  received  similar  information 
from  you.  In  this  state  the  business  is  at  pre- 
sent, and  you  will  of  course  believe,  that  it  will 
be  again  taken  up  on  your  arrival  in  town  ;  be- 
fore which  time  it  may  be  proper  to  revolve  in 
your  mind,  what  steps  maybe  necessary  for  bring- 
ing forward  the  evidences." 

On  the  3d  of  October  1787,  when  writing  to 
Captain  Locker.  Nelson  mentioned  his  having 
applied  to  Lord  Howe:  "I  have  asked  Lord 
Howe  for  a  ship  of  the  line;  but  Boreas  is 
victualled  for  three  months,  and  ready  for  sea, 
and  I  am  ordered  to  hold  myself  prepared  to  sail 
the  moment  my  Orders  come  on  board.  My 
heal tli,  thank  (iod,  was  never  better,  and  I  am 
fit  for  any  quarter  of  the  globe." 


103 

The  uncertainty  in  which  he  was  thus  kept, 
was  succeeded  by  a  strange  and  unexpected  mor- 
tification: If  Sir  Charles  Middleton,  in  the 
month  of  August  had  expected  that  the  Boreas, 
as  was  customary,  would  have  been  paid  off  soon 
after  her  arrival ;  what  were  the  feelings  of  her 
gallant  Captain  and  crew,  on  finding  themselves, 
after  their  fatigues  in  the  West  Indies,  kept  at 
the  Nore  until  the  30th  of  November,  actually 
serving  as  a  slop  and  receiving  ship!  The  former 
felt  this  neglect  very  sensibly;  and  if  it  had  not 
been  for  the  kind  interference  of  an  Officer,  who 
stood  deservedly  high  in  the  confidence  of  Lord 
Howe,  Captain  Nelson,  to  use  the  words  of  a  most 
intimate  friend  of  his,  "  M'as  so  dissatisfied  with 
the  ill  usage  he  had  received,  that  I  am  certain, 
had  lie  possessed  the  means  of  living  indepen- 
dently on  shore,  he  would  never  have  gone  to 
sea  again."  From  another  respectable  authority, 
it  is  also  stated,  "  That  whilst  he  felt  so  keenly 
the  unpleasant  duties  that  thus  were  imposed 
upon  him,  Nelson  seldom  or  ever  quitted  his  ship,  • 
or  associated  with  his  brother  officers;  but  was 
observed  to  carry  on  the  duty  with  strict  and 
sullen  attention.  On  the  morning  when  his 
Orders  were  received  to  prepare  the  Boreas  for 
being  paid  off,  he  communicated  with  much 
emotion,  to  the  Senior  Officer  commanding  his 
Majesty's  ships  and  vessels  in  the  river  Medway, 
the  following  extraordinary  resolution:  —  "  I  now 
rejoice  at  the  Boreas  being  ordered  to  be  paid 


104 

off,  which  will  release  me  for  ever  from  an  un- 
grateful Service;  as  it  is  my  firm  and  unalterable 
determination,  never  again  to  set  my  foot  on 
board  a  King's  Ship.  Immediately  after  my  ar- 
rival in  town  1  shall  wait  on  the  first  Lord  of  the 
Admiralty,  and  resign  my  Commission."— The 
Senior  Officer's  arguments  and  expostulations 
were  urged  in  vain:  he,  therefore,  immediately 
employed  his  secret  and  friendly  interference 
with  the  first  Lord  of  the  Admiralty ;  and  the 
result  was*,  that  on  the  29th  of  November,  the 
day  before  the  Boreas  was  paid  off,  her  Captain 
received  a  kind  letter  from  Lord  Howe,  inti- 
mating his  wish  to  see  him  on  his  arrival  in  town. 
Captain  Nelson  accordingly  waited  upon  his 
Lordship,  who  received  him,  with  much  civility; 
and  after  some  explanations  relative  to  Transac- 
tions in  the  West  Indies,  Lord  Howe  appeared 
so  perfectly  satisfied,  that  he  offered  to  present 
him  to  his  Majesty  on  the  first  levee  day,  which 
was  done  accordingly. 

IX.  Amidst  that  variety  of  business  which 
demanded  attention  on  his  return  to  England, 
were  the  difficulties  which  a  zealous  and  indepen- 
dent mind  had  brought  upon  him.  He  also  failed 
not,  by  every  means  in  his  power,  to  fulfil  the 
promise  which  he  had  made  to  his  Royal  High- 
ness Prince  William,  of  counteracting  whatever 
had  been  opposed  to  the  merited  reputation  of 
his  illustrious  pupil,  and  to  the  friendship  they 
had  so  invariably  preserved  for  each  other:  in 


105 

which  he  was  supported  by  the  advice  and  expe- 
rience of  Captain  Locker;  between  whose  resi- 
dence at  Kensington,  and  the  house  of  Mrs.  Nel- 
son's uncle  in  Cavendish  Square,  Captain  Nelson's 
leisure  hours  were  chiefly  divided.  His  health  at 
this  time  was  in  a  very  precarious  state;  and  as  he 
dreaded  the  effects  of  an  English  winter  after  so 
long  a  continuance  in  the  West  Indies,  he  de- 
termined to  visit  Bath,  that  he  might  drink  the 
waters,  and  bathe  there.  On  the  26th  of  De^ 
cember  he  therefore  left  Mr.  Herbert's,  accom- 
panied by  Mrs.  Nelson. 

From  Bath  they  visited  an  uncle  of  Mrs.  NeU 
son's  at  Redland;  and  then,  as  appears  from  the 
following  letter  to  the  same  friend,  proceeded  to 
Exmouth.  During  his  stay  at  Exmouth  he  visited 
Prince  William  at  Plymouth;  and  thence  sent 
the  following  letter,  which  is  without  any  address, 
but,  as  it  would  appear  from  the  contents,  seems 
to  have  been  written  to  Messrs.  H.  and  W.  in 
the  West  Indies. — "  Plymouth,  April  26,  1788. — 
Gentlemen:  I  have  only  this  moment  been  ho- 
noured with  your  letter  of  February  13th,  and 
am  surprised  you  have  not  received  one  from 
me,  dated  at  the  Nore  in  September  last,  more 
especially  as  I  sent  it  to  Sir  Charles  Middleton; 
he  having  desired  me  to  write  to  you,  stating, 
that  a  most  honourable  and  liberal  confidence 
might  be  reposed  in  him.  Sir  Charles  has  not 
only  the  abilities,  but  the  power  of  doing  more 


106 

for  you  than  I  ever  could  have ;  and,  I  am  as- 
sured, as  much  wishes  to  bring  these  iniquitous 
frauds  to  light.  This  is  his  public  character,  I 
have  not  the  honour  of  knowing  his  private  one. 
Repeatedly  I  have  seen  Sir  Charles  Middleton, 
and  he  told  me  that  every  step  should  be  taken ; 
nay,  that  one  of  the  officers  was  not  likely  to  go 
out  again  to  Antigua. 

"  Lord  Howe  told  me,  he  had  consulted  with 
the  Navy  Board,  and  that  they  would  receive 
any  communication  from  you,  or  myself,  and 
would  do  what  was  right ;  and  further  said,  that 
you  were  entitled,  on  making  good  these  repre- 
sentations, to  a  most  liberal  reward. 

"  From  Mr.  Pitt,  I  had  an  acknowledgment, 
that  the  papers  were  received  by  him,  and  had 
been  sent  to  the  different  departments.  I  shall 
go  to  town  very  shortly,  and  will  call  on  Sir 
Charles  Middleton;  and,  if  he  thinks  fit,  I  shall 
see  your  answer  to  the  Navy  Board  :  at  all  events 
I  shall  desire  it.  You  may  rest  assured,  that  no 
steps  shall  be  left  untaken  by  me  to  accomplish 
the  discovery  of  these  mal-practices,  and  to  get 
you  the  reward,  which  I  have  not  the  least  doubt 
you  will  so  well  merit.  I  must  nevertheless  ap- 
prize you,  that  my  interest  in  this  country  is  very 
small;  therefore  do  not  build  on  what  I  can  do 
for  you  :  Indeed  little  else  but  my  Integrity  and 
Public  Spirit  can  bring  such  an  humble  individual 
as  myself  into  notice:  however  the  goodness  of 


107 

the  cause  we  are  engaged  in,  will  support  itself 
at  all  times;  more  especially,  I  dare  say,  with 
such  an  upright  character  as  Mr.  Pitt. 

"  His  Royal  Highness  commands  me  to  say, 
that  were  he  placed  in  a  situation  where  he  could 
be  of  any  service  to  this  Cause,  he  would  most 
assuredly  sift  it  to  the  bottom :  but  that  at  pre- 
sent, not  having  been  from  this  port  since  his 
arrival,  he  can  only  give  his  good  wishes  for  the 
accomplishment  of  what  you  have  begun. 

"  I  am  much  obliged  by  your  good  wishes  in 
respect  to  myself.  All  his  Majesty's  naval  officers 
would  have  acted  the  same  upright  part,  which 
you  are  pleased  to  suppose  I  should." 

Thus  the  very  extensive  Public  Frauds  which 
had  been  long  committed  with  impunity  in  the 
West  Indies,  were  at  length  put  in  a  proper  train 
to  be  provided  against  in  future.  An  immense 
saving  was  made  to  government,  and  its  attention 
directed  to  similar  peculations  in  other  parts  of 
our  extensive  Colonies.  No  reward,  however, 
nor  any  mark  of  commendation,  seems  in  conse*- 
quence  to  have  been  conferred  on  Captain  Nel- 
son. It  is  not  so  much  the  Honours,  that  are  at 
length  liberally  bestowed  on  Officers  who  are 
worn  out  in  the  Service,  which  preserve  a  spirit 
of  Heroism  and  Enterprise  in  our  Navy  ;  as  an 
attention  to  humble  individuals,  who,  like  Nelson 
at  this  period  of  his  life,  have  only  their  Integrity 
and  Zeal  to  bring  them  into  notice ;  and  whose 


108 

valour  has  been  disciplined  in  the  rigid  school 
of  adversity. 

Among  the  private  friends,  whom  his  talents 
and  exemplary  conduct  had  at  an  early  period 
secured  to  him  in  the  West  Indies,  the  name  of 
Hercules  Ross,  Esq.  has  been  already  mentioned; 
and  to  this  gentleman,  whilst  at  Exmouth,  Nelson 
thus  delivered  his  sentiments  without  reserve: — 
"  May  6,  1788.  My  dear  friend  :  You  have,  as 
well  as  myself  undergone  a  great  change  since 
we  last  met ;  and  I  hope  and  have  been  told, 
are  united  to  an  amiable  woman,  the  greatest 
blessing  heaven  can  bestow. — But  in  another  re- 
spect, my  friend,  you  have  got  the  start  of  me. 
You  have  given  up  all  the  toils  and  anxieties  of 
business  ;  whilst  I  must  still  buffet  the  waves — 
in  search  of  what  ?  Alas  !  that  thing  called  Ho- 
nour, is  now  thought  of  no  more.  My  Integrity 
cannot,  I  hope,  be  amended  ;  but  my  fortune, 
God  knows,  has  grown  worse  for  the  service: 
so  much  for  serving  my  Country.  But  the  devil, 
ever  willing  to  tempt  the  virtuous,  (pardon  this 
flattery  of  myself),  has  made  me  offer,  if  any 
ships  should  be  sent  to  destroy  his  Majesty  of 
Morocco's  ports,  to  be  there;  and  I  have  some 
reason  to  think,  that  should  any  more  come  of  it, 
my  humble  services  will  be  accepted.  I  have  in- 
variably laid  down,  and  followed  close  a  plan  of 
what  ought  to  be  uppermost  in  the  breast  of 
an  officer: — that  it  is  much  better  to  serve  an  un- 


109 

grateful  Country,  than  to  give  up  his  own  Fame. 
Posterity  will  do  him  justice:  An  uniform  course 
of  Honour  and  Integrity  seldom  fails  of  bringing 
a  man  to  the  goal  of  Fame  at  last. — But  to  what 
am  I  getting  ?  Into  a  sermon  ! — Mrs.  Nelson  joins 
in  compliments  to  Mrs.  Ross;  and  believe  me 
ever,  my  dear  friend,  your  affectionate  Horatio 
Nelson." 

On  leaving  the  beautiful  scenery  of  Exmouth, 
they  passed  through  town  in  their  way  to  his 
favourite  cottage,  the  parsonage  of  Burnham 
'Jhorpe;  of  which  he  could  never  speak  in  ab- 
sence without  being  affected.  He  called,  as  was 
his  custom,  at  the  Admiralty;  and  not  obtaining 
an  interview  with  Lord  Howe,  sent  him  the  fol- 
lowing letter:  u  My  Lord,  1  have  twice,  since 
my  arrival  in  town,  done  myself  the  honour  of 
calling  on  your  Lordship,  in  order  to  pay  my 
personal  respects;  and  to  assure  you  that  as  I 
have  always  been,  so  I  continue  ever  in  readi- 
ness to  undertake  any  duty,  to  which  the  Admi- 
ralty may  think  it  proper  to  appoint  me.  My 
Zeal  for  his  Majesty's  service  is  as  great,  as  I 
once  flattered  myself  your  Lordship  thought  it. 

"  I  had  hopes  that  the  Admiralty  would  have 
ordered  me  the  same  allowance  at  least,  as  was 
given  to  a  Junior  Officer  left  in  the  command  at 
Jamaica;  and  ,  hope  your  Lordship  will  give  me 
countenance  in  an  application  for  it.  I  trust  it  is 
incontrovertible,  that  1  did  my  duty  with  the 
most  rigid  exactness,  and  that  the  business  of 


110 

the  Naval  Yard  was  never  paid  more  attention 
to,  than  by  myself.  The  Navy  Board  I  am 
sure,  at  this  moment,  are  inclined  to  believe, 
that  the  difficulties  said  by  their  officers  to  be 
thrown  in  the  way  of  their  duty  by  me,  arose 
only  from  my  close  investigation  of  their  con- 
duct; which  prevented  their  impositions  from 
taking  effect.  Every  artificer  -and  seaman  em- 
ployed in  the  Naval  Yard  receives  additional 
pay;  and  shall  the  officer  who  has  the  conducting 
of  the  whole  business  be  the  only  one  (in  this 
instance)  who  is  neglected?  1  trust  in  your 
Lordship's  answer  it  will  not  prove  so.  The 
trouble  I  was  at  in  developing  those  Frauds,  it  is 
most  true,  was  no  more  than  my  duty;  but 
indeed,  my  Lord,  I  little  thought  that  the  ex- 
penses attending  my  going  so  often  to  St.  John's, 
a  distance  of  twelve  miles,  would  have  fallen 
upon  my  pay  as  Captain  of  the  Boreas." 

When  Captain  and  Mrs.  Nelson  arrived  at  the 
Parsonage  of  Burnham  Thorpe,  they  had  no 
thoughts  of  residing  there;  but  only  intended  to 
pay  their  Father  a  visit,  preparatory  to  their 
going  to  France,  as  Captain  Nelson  had  ex- 
perienced great  inconvenience  from  not  under- 
standing the  French  language,  a  most  useful  and 
essential  part  of  a  Naval  Officer's  education. 
Mrs.  Nelson  was  on  this  occasion  to  have  been 
an  assistant;  as  from  having  long  been  in  the 
habit  of  receiving  the  French  officers,  who 
came  recommended  from  the  governors  of  their 


Ill 

Islands  to  her  uncle,  she  had  attained  a  thorough 
knowledge  of  their  language.  However,  at  their 
father's  entreaty,  they  soon  altered  their  plan. 
His  joy  at  seeing  this  Son  was  so  great,  that  he 
declared  it  had  given  him  new  life.  "  But, 
Horace,"  exclaimed  the  venerable  Rector,  "  it 
would  have  heen  better  that  I  had  not  been  thus 
cheered,  if  I  am  so  soon  to  be  bereaved  of  you 
again.  Let  me,  my  good  Son,  see  you  whilst  I 
can:  age  and  infirmities  increase,  and  I  shall 
not  last  long." — The  wishes  of  a  Father  thus  de- 
livered were  unanswerable:  Captain  and  Mrs. 
Nelson  therefore  became  his  constant  guests, 
and  the  latter  his  nurse  and  companion. 

It  is  extremely  interesting  to  contemplate  this 
great  man,  when  thus  removed  from  the  busy 
scenes  in  which  he  had  borne  so  distinguished  a 
part,  to  the  remote  village  of  Burnham  Thorpe. 
His  mind,  though  so  entirely  taken  from  its 
proper  element  and  sphere  of  action,  could  not 
remain  unoccupied.  He  was  soon,  therefore, 
engaged  and  with  considerable  zeal,  in  cul- 
tivating his  father's  garden,  and  in  learning 
to  farm  the  adjoining  glebe;  but  the  former 
was  his  principal  station:  he  would  there  often 
spend  the  greater  part  of  the  day,  and  dig, 
as  it  were,  for  the  sake  of  being  wearied.  At 
others,  he  would  renew  the  early  pastime  of  his 
childhood,  and  with  a  simplicity  that  was  pe- 
culiar to  him,  when  his  mind  was  not  employed 
on  the  great  objects  of  professional  duty,  would 


112 

pass  many  hours  amidst  the  woods,  in  taking  the 
eggs  of  different  birds ;  which,  as  he  obtained, 
he  gave  to  Mrs.  Nelson,  who  at  his  express  de- 
sire always  attended  him.  He  sometimes  also 
employed  his  time,  when  his  eyes  would  admit 
of  it,  in  reading;  and  particularly  such  peri- 
odical works  of  the  day  as  he  could  procure; 
but  oftener  in  studying  a  variety  of  Charts, 
and  in  writing,  or  in  drawing  Plans.  His 
great  object  was  to  be  employed;  and  though 
the  expenses  of  a  Ship  in  time  of  peace,  some- 
times induced  him  to  repress  his  enterprising  and 
sanguine  mind,  he  could  not  abate  its  energy. 

During  his  continuance  in  this  Retreat,  when 
he  had  one  clay  gone  to  purchase  a  pony  at 
a  neighbouring  fair,  the  following  event  took 
place.  Two  men,  whose  appearance  savoured 
greatly  of  Bow  Street,  entered  the  Parsonage 
abruptly  and  asked  for  Captain  Nelson.  On 
being  told  that  he  was  gone  out,  but  that  Mrs. 
Nelson  was  at  home,  they  desired  to  see  her: 
when  having  made  her  repeatedly  declare,  that 
she  was  really  and  truly  the  Captain's  wife,  they 
presented  her  with  a  Writ,  or  Notification,  on 
the  part  of  the  American  Captains,  who  hud  laid 
their  damages  at  20, GOO/,  and  desired  her  to  give 
it  to  her  husband  at  his  return. 

Captain  Nelson  having  bought  his  pony,  re- 
turned with  it  to  the  Parsonage:  when,  to  his 
utter  astonishment  and  distress,  he  received  the 
notification  which  had  been  left  with  hib  wife. 


113 

They  who  best  know  the  irritable  mind  of  Nel- 
son, and  the  sudden  paroxysms  which  it  some- 
times displayed,  may  best  imagine  his  sensations 
at  that  moment.  This  Affront,  exclaimed  the  in- 
dignant servant  of  his  Country,  I  did  not  deserve: 
but  never  mind: — /'//  be  trifled  with  no  longer.  I 
shall  write  immediately  to  the  Treasury ;  and  if  go- 
vernment will  not  support  me,  I  am  resolved  to  leave 
the  Country. 

He  accordingly  acquainted  the  Treasury  with 
what  had  happened,  and  added,  that  if  a  satisfac- 
tory answer  were  not  sent  him  by  return  of  post, 
he  should  take  refuge  in  France.  The  whole  plan. 
was  then  arranged  with  his  usual  promptness  and 
decision;  and  it  was  settled  that  his  elder  brother, 
Maurice,  should  accompany  Mrs.  Nelson  to  the 
Continent  in  ten  days  after  her  husband.  For- 
tunately a  favourable  answer  was  received;  and 
probably  the  following  one,  which  was  found 
amongst  his  papers,  and  seems  to  have  been  sent 
through  his  friend  Captain  Pringle.  "  May  the 
4th  (without  the  date  of  the  year,  but,  as 
would  seem,  1788).  My  dear  Nelson:  I  have 
just  time  to  tell  you,  that  I  have  this  morn- 
ing got  Mr.  Rose's  answer,  which  is,  '  That 
Captain  Nelson  is  a  very  good  officer,  and  need 
be  under  no  apprehension,  for  he  will  assuredly 
be  supported  by  the  Treasury:'  Of  which  I  give 
you  joy."  To  this  letter  may  be  added  the  fol- 
lowing extract  from  the  Notes  of  the  Hou. 
G.  Rose,  "  His  representations  were  all  at-' 

i 


114 

tended  to,  and  every  step  which  he  recom- 
mended was  adopted.  He  thus  put  the  Investi- 
gation into  a  proper  course,  which  ended  in  the 
detection  and  punishment  of  some  of  the  parties 
whose  conduct  had  been  complained  of." 

IX.    The  anxiety  and  importunity  with  which 
Capt.  Nelson  in  vain  solicited  the  Admiralty  for 
active  employment,  during  the  year  1790,  when 
the  conduct  of  the  Spaniards  at  Nootka  Sound 
seemed  to  render  a  war  inevitable,  are  forcibly 
described    in    his   letters.       In    writing  to    the 
Duke  of  Clarence,  on  the  24th  of  June,  in  that 
year,  he  d  \velt  on  the  disappointment  he  had  thus 
experienced;  a  disappointment  which  preyed  so- 
much  upon  his  feelings,  that  it  had  nearly  again 
induced  him  to  retire  from  the  Service,,  had  not 
the  urgent  remonstrances  of  Lord  Hood  to  the 
contrary  prevailed.      "  Buniham,  Norfolk,  June 
the  24Y/?,    1790.     Sir,    My  not  being  appointed 
to  a  ship  is  so  very  mortifying,  that  I  cannot  find 
words  to  express  what  I  feel  on  the  occasion;  and 
when  I  reflect  on  your  Royal  Hi-ghness's.  conde- 
scension in  mentioning  me  to  Lord  Chatham,  I 
am  the  more  hurt,  and  surprised.    Sure  I  am,  that 
I  have  ever  been  a  zealous  and  faithful  Servant, 
and    have    never    intentionally    committed    any 
errors;    especially  as,  until  very  lately,    I   have 
been  honoured  by  the  notice  of  the  Admiralty." 
His  constant  wish  to  be  employed  was  increased 
during  the  autumn,  by  hearing  that  his  old  ship, 
the  Raisonable,  in  which  he  had  commenced  his. 


naval  Career  was  to  be  commissioned,  and  he 
therefore  sent  the  following  letter  to  Lord  Chat- 
ham. "  Burnham,  Norfolk,  Sept.  %6,  1790.  My 
Lord,  My  wish  to  be  employed  is  so  great,  that 
I  trespass  on  your  Lordship's  time  with  a  letter. 
I  am  sensible  I  have  no  great  interest  to  recom- 
mend me,  nor  have  I  had  conspicuous  opportu- 
nities of  distinguishing  myself;  but  thus  far, 
without  arrogating,  I  can  declare,  that  no  oppor- 
tunity has  been  passed  by,  and  that  I  have  ever 
been  a  zealous  Officer.  I  am  sure  Lord  Hood 
will  bear  testimony  of  what  I  have  taken  the 
liberty  of  saying.  If  the  Raisonable  is  not  given 
away,  I  should  esteem  myself  highly  honoured 
by  the  command  of  her." 

The  above  was  one  of  the  many  ineffectual  ap- 
plications which  this  brave  and  excellent  Officer 
made  for  active  employment.  He  felt  he  had  not 
merited  neglect,  that  he  had  considerable  claims 
on  his  Country,  and  was  too  indignant  to  consi- 
der, how  many  other  Officers  had  experienced 
the  same  behaviour:  that  all  public  Boards  were 
likely  to  be  affected  by  partialities  and  preju- 
dices, and  by  the  influence  of  a  political  interest, 
which  though  often  justly  complained  of,  is  an 
evil  that  arises  from  the  noblest  part  of  our  ad- 
mirable Constitution. 

Towards  the  end  of  this  year,  Captain  Nelson 
had  the  comfort  to  find,  that  the  gallant  Corn- 
wallis  still  kept  him  in  his  memory.  "  Fhcenix, 

I  2 


116 


Diamond  Harlour,  istk  Aug.  1790.  Dear 
son,  I  lament  very  much,  as  I  recollect  you  had 
some  time  past  a  great  inclination  to  come  to  this 
Country,  that  a  change  of  circumstances  made  it 
impossible  for  me  to  think  of  proposing  it  to  you 
upon  my  appointment;  for  I  do  declare,  that  it 
would  have  been  a  great  happiness  to  me  to  have 
had  you  on  this  station.  The  visiting  our  new 
settlements  at  Prince  of  Wales's  Island,  and  the 
Andaman,  gives  an  opportunity  for  exploring, 
which  I  prefer  to  the  being  stuck  up  in  a  pom- 
pous style  at  one  of  the  old  ones.  Oar  Royal 
Duke  is,  I  hear,  almost  tired  of  the  shore;  but 
how  he  will  be  able  to  employ  himself  in 
time  of  peace  at  sea,  is  not  easy  to  deter- 
mine. It  would  however  be  a  pity,  that  any 
of  the  zeal  and  fondness  he  has  so  evidently 
shewn  far  the  Service,  should  be  suffered  to 
abate  ;  as  there  is  every  reason  to  believe,  that 
with  his  ability  he  will  one  day  carry  its  glory  to 
a  greater  height  than  it  has  yet  attained." 

In  the  course  of  the  years  1791  and  1792, 
Captain  Nelson  renewed  his  earnest  applications 
to  the  Admiralty  Board,  that  their  Lordships 
would  not  suffer  him  to  rust  in  indolence:  until 
at  last,  finding  every  attempt  ineffectual,  he  be- 
gan to  give  up  all  hope  of  ever  being  again 
employee!.  During  the  latter  year,  his  zealous 
friend  the  Duke  of  Clarence  having  often  de- 
livered his  sentiments  in  the  House  of  Lords,  in 
a  manner  that  was  very  gratifying  to  the  princi- 


117 

-pies  of  Nelson,  he  addressed  a  complimentary 
letter  to  his  Royal  Highness  on  the  12th  of  Sep- 
tember 1792,  to  which  the  Duke  returned  the 
following  answer.  "  Clarence  Lodge,  Sept.  21, 
My  dear  Nelson;  I  beg  leave  to  acknowledge 
the  receipt  of  your  friendly  letter  of  the  12th 
instant,  which  came  safely.  I  am  so  fully 
persuaded  of  your  real  regard  for  me,  my  good 
friend,  that  no  fresh  mark  can  be  wanting  to 
convince  «ie:  Still  however  at  the  present  mo- 
ment, when  the  Public  have  two  opinions,  the 
one  good,  the  other  disadvantageous  of  my  par- 
liamentary conduct,  I  feel  highly  obliged  to  you, 
as  a  person  qualified  to  judge,  for  delivering  your 
sentiments.  I  think  it  is  the  duty  of  every  sub- 
ject to  prevent,  if  possible,  that  confusion  which 
might  throw  our  Kingdom  into  the  wretched  de- 
plorable state  of  France.  Assure  our  common 
friends  in  the  West  Indies,  that  I  will  neither 
neglect  nor  -desert  them.  My  -best  wishes  and 
•compliments  attend  Mrs.  Nelson,  and  ever  ;be- 
lieve  me  yours  sincerely,  WILLIAM." 

In  the  course  of  the  ensuing  month  of  Novem- 
ber, his  despairing  mind  was  soothed  by  the  fol- 
lowing letter  from  Capt.  Cuthbert  Collingwood, 
who  seemed  born  to  follow  him  throughout  the 
whole  of  his  professional  career.  The  following 
is  an  extract:  "  My  dear  friend,  I  am  much 
obliged  to  you  for  your  letter,  which  I  received 
last  month:  it  was  particularly  welcome  to  me, 
as  it  brought  information  of  the  good  health  of 


118 

yourself  and  Mrs.  Nelson.  You  must  not  be  dis- 
pleased that  I  was  so  long  without  writing  to  you. 
I  was  very  anxiously  engaged  a  great  part  of  the 
time,  and  perhaps  sometimes  a  little  lazy :  but  my 
regard  for  you,  my  dear  Nelson,  my  respect  and 
veneration  for  your  Character,  I  hope  and  believe 
will  never  lessen.  God  knows  when  we  may  meet 
again,  unless  some  chance  should  draw  us  again 
to  the  sea  shore.  I  however  hope  to  have  long 
the  happiness  of  hearing  of  your  welfare.  The 
times  are  turbulent,  the  Enthusiasm  for  Liberty 
is  rasfinsf  even  to  madness.  The  success  of  the 

O         O 

French  people  in  establishing  their  Republic,  has 
set  the  same  principle,  which  lurked  in  every 
state  in  Europe,  afloat;  and  those,  who  secreted 
it  in  their  bosoms,  have  now  the  boldness  to 
avow  it — to  avow  a  plan  for  adopting  it  in  the 
government  of  this  Country,  and  to  recruit  vo- 
lunteers for  carrying  their  purpose  into  execu- 
tion. Misery  will  undoubtedly  be  the  conse- 
quence of  any  commotion,  or  attempt  to  disturb 
our  present  most  excellent  Constitution.  God 
bless  you,  and  believe  me,h  my  dear  Nelson, 
affectionately  and  faithfully  yours,  Cuthbcrt  Col- 
lingwood." — The  following  testimony  of  Nelson's 
attachment  to  his  Sovereign  is  without  date,  but 
seems,  from  the  answer  returned,  to  have  been 
sent  to  the  Duke  of  Clarence,  on  the  3d  of  No- 
vember, 179".  "  Sir,  Your  Royal  Highness 

h  from  the  Nelson  papers. 


H9 

will  not,  I  trust,  deem  it  improper,  although  I 
have  no  doubt  it  will  be  thought  unnecessary,  at 
this  time  to  renew  my  expressions  of  invariable 
Attachment  not  only  to  your  Royal  Highness,  but 
to  my  KING;  for  I  think  that  very  soon  every 
individual  will  be  called  forth  to  shew  himself,  if 
I  may  judge  from  this  county,  where  societies 
are  formed,  and  forming,  on  principles  certainly 
inimical  to  our  present  Constitution  both  in 
Church  and  State.  Sorry  a  in  I  to  believe  that 
iii any  give  a  countenance  to  these  societies,  who 
ought  to  conduct  themselves  otherwise. 

"  In  what  way  it  might  be  in  the  power  of 
such  an  humble  Individual  as  myself  to  best 
serve  my  KING,  has  been  matter  of  serious  con- 
sideration, and  no  mode  appeared  to  me  so  pro- 
per as  asking  for  a  shio:  accordingly  on  Saturday 
last,  Lord  Chatham  received  my  letter  desiring 
the  command  of  one.  Still,  as  I  have  hitherto 
been  disappointed  in  all  my  applications  to  his 
Lordship,  1  can  hardly  expect  any  answer  to  my 
letter,  which  has  always  been  the  way  I  have 
been  treated.  But  neither  at  sea,  nor  on  shore, 
can  my  attachment  to  my  KING  be  shaken. — It 
will  never  end  but  with  my  life."  On  the  6th  of 
December,  1792,  his  Royal  Highness  returned 
the  following  answer.  "  Dear  Nelson,  Though 
at  present  the  Armament  is  confined  to  small 
vessels,  I  much  doubt  whether  any  fleet  will  be 
equipped,  and  still  less  do  I  see  any  chance  for  a 
rupture  between  this  Country  and  France:  At 


120 

\ 

the   same   time   this   pernicious   and   fallacious 
.system  of  Equality,  and  universal  Liberty,  must 
be  checked,  or  else  we  shall  here  have  the  most 
dreadful  consequences.     I  perfectly  agree  with 
you,  that  it  is  the  duty  of  every  Individual  to  use 
his  utmost  efforts  to  counteract  these  incendi- 
aries;  and  I  hope  we  shall  in  Parliament  take 
vigorous  and  effectual  means  to  restore  tranquil- 
lity at  home.     Should  matters  between  the  two 
Countries  grow  serious,  you  must  be  employed. 
Never  be   alarmed.     I  will  always   stand  your 
friend.     I  wish  you  would  write  me  word  how 
you   and  Lord   Hood  are  at  present.     My  best 
wishes   and    compliments    attend    Mrs.    Nelson, 
and  ever  believe  me  yours  sincerely,  WILLIAM." 
That  nothing  might  be  wanting  in  point  of 
perseverance  in  himself,   Captain  Nelson  again 
applied  to  the  Board  for  employment  on  the  5th 
of  December;  and  after  earnestly  requesting  the 
coihmand  of  a  ship,  he  added,  Or  if  their  Lord- 
ships should  be  pleased  to  appoint  me  to  a  COCKLE 
BOAT,    /  shall  feel  grateful.     The  application, 
however,   was  in  vain;  and  he  had  only  one  of 
those  Official  Letters,  which  it  is  sometimes  ne- 
cessary to  send  on  such  occasions, —  "  Admiralty 
Officej   \(lth    Dec.    1792.     Sir,    I  have    received 
your  letter  of  the  oth  instant,   expressing  your 
readiness  to  serve,  and  I  have  read  the  same  to 
my    Lords    Commissioners    of    the    Admiralty." 
Such  was  the  state  of  mind  and  such  the  expec- 
tations of  NELSON",  before   the  commencement 


of  hostilities  with  France :  until  that  period  his 
glory  suffered  a  partial  eclipse ;  but  its  subse- 
quent brightness  became  more  uniform  and 
splendid.  What  a  change  did  a  few  years  make 
in  this  humble  and  apparently  forgotten  tenant 
of  the  parsonage  of  Burnham  Thorpe !  Let  the 
anxious  and  too  irritable  disposition  of  Naval 
Officers  therefore  learn,  from  the  subsequent 
achievements  of  this  illustrious  Seaman,  never  to 
despair;  for,  as  the  Wise  Man  said,  To  every  thing 
there  is  a  Season,  and  a  Time  to  every  purpose  tinder 
the  Heaven. 

X.  The  year  1793,  when  the  present  eventful 
contest  commenced  between  the  commercial 
power  of  Great  Britain  and  the  military  strength 
of  France,  is  also  remarkable  as  being  the  first 
of  those  twelve  remaining  years  in  the  life  of 
NELSON,  throughout  which  he  maintained  a  ca- 
reer of  Glory  which  is  almost  without  a  parallel  in 
History.  It  is  hardly  possible  to  conceive,  that 
in  so  short  a  period,  an  individual  in  the  British 
Navy,  who  had  then  remained  for  nearly  five 
years  in  obscurity,  unable  to  procure  the  com- 
mand of  a  Ship,  should  from  this  time  gradually 
rise,  by  his  professional  exertions  alone,  to  such 
a  height,  as  gave  him  a  decided  preeminence 
over  the  many  and  renowned  warriors  of  the 
British  nation. 

Anno  When  it  at  length  was  found  neces- 

Aitat.  35.  sarv  |JV  our  government,  npt  with  stand- 


ing  all  its  pacific  intentions,  to  appeal  to  the 
decision  of  arms,  the  Duke  of  Clarence  imme- 
diately exerted  himself  to  fulfil  the  promise  he 
had  made  to  his  friend;  in  which  his  Roval 

9 

Highness  was  seconded  hy  Lord  Hood.  Captain 
Nelson  was  in  consequence  appointed  to  the 
Agamemnon,  so  early  as  the  30th  of  January, 
1795,  and  commissioned  his  ship  on  the  llth  of 
February.  His  previous  feelings  at  the  prospect 
of  this  event  taking  place,  \vere  expressed  in  a 
letter  to  his  wife,  dated  London,  Jan.  7th. 

"  Post  nubila  Phcebus  !  after  clouds  come  sun- 
shine: The  Admiralty  so  smile  upon  me,  that 
really  I  am  as  much  surprised  as  when  they 
frowned.  Lord  Chatham  yesterday  made  many 
apologies  for  not  having  given  me  a  ship  before 
this  time;  and  said,  that  if  I  chose  to  take  a 
sixty-four  to  begin  with,  I  should  be  appointed 
to  one  as  soon  as  she  was  ready;  and  whenever  it 
was  in  his  power  I  should  he  removed  into  a 
seventy-four.  Every  thing  indicates  War.  One 
of  our  ships,  looking  into  Brest,  has  been  fired 
into; i  the  shot  is  now  at  the  Admiralty.  You  will 

i  The  Childers  sloop,  Captain  Barlow  (how  Sir  Robert  Barlow, 
deputy  Comptroller  of  the  Navy),  would  have  been  destroyed  by 
i  he  heavy  cross  fire  that  was  opened  upon  her  from  all  the  batte- 
ries at  the  mouth  of  Brest  harbour,  if  a  gale  of  wind  springing  up 
had  not  enabled  her  to  escape.  Being  a  small  object,  only  one 
shot  hit  her,  which  struck  one  of  her  guns,  and  split  it  in  three 
pieces,  without  injuring  a  man:  the  shot  weighed  forty-eight 
pounds. 


123 

send  my  Father  this  news,  which  I  am  sure  will 
please  him.  Love  to  Josiah,  and  believe  me  your 
most  affectionate  Horatio  Nelson." 

Previous  to  the  sailing  of  the  Agamemnon  from 
Chatham,  he  wrote  to  Airs.  Nelson  at  Hilborough, 

o    » 

March  15,  1793.  "  If  the  wind  is  to  the  north- 
ward of  west,  we  go  down  the  river  to-morroM% 
and  are  ordered  to  proceed  to  Spithead  with  all 
possible  despatch,  as  we  are  M'anted,  Lord  Hood 
writes  me  word,  for  immediate  service;  and  hints 
we  are  to  go  a  cruise,  and  then  to  join  his  fleet  at 
Gibraltar:  therefore  I  am  anxious  to  get  to  Spit- 
head.  I  never  was  in  better  health,  and  I  hope 
you  intend  a  new  lease  of  your  life :  the  not  tying 
up  any  of  the  money  left  you,  I  consider  as  a 
confidence  reposed  in  me,  and  I  shall  take  care 
that  it  is  not  misplaced. " 

The  Agamemnon  sailed  from  Spithead  on  the 
llth  of  May,  in  company  with  the  Britannia,  110 
guns,  Admiral  Hotham,  the  Colossus,  Fortitude, 
and  Courageux,  of  74  guns  each,  and  the  Me- 
leager  and  Lowestoffe  frigates,  The  following 
letter  to  Mrs.  Nelson  is  dated  off  Cape  St.  Vin- 
cent, June  14,  1793.  "  We  have  had  the  finest 
passage  and  weather  possible:  but  have  seen  no- 
thing except  a  poor  miserable  National  brig,  which 
one  of  the  ships  took.  I  paid  Lord  Hood  a  visit 
a  few  days  back,  and  found  him  very  civil,  I  dare 
say  we  shall  be  good  friends  again.  Six  sail  of 
the  line  have  just  parted  company,  going  to  Cadiz 
to  water,  of  which  number  is  Agamemnon.  We 


124 

shall  be  in  Cadiz  to-morrow  at  twelve  o'clock,  as 
well  as  Lord  Hood  at  Gibraltar.  We  are  all  well; 
my  ship  remarkably  healthy." 

ic  Agamemnon  at  sea^  Sunday,  June  23.  We 
came  out  this  morning,  having  completed  our 
ship  with  every  thing  except  wine,  which  is  to 
be  done  at  Gibraltar.  The  Spaniards  have  been 
very  civil  to  us :  we  dined  on  board  the  Concep- 
cion  of  112  guns,  with  the  Admiral;  and  all  re- 
straints of  going  into  their  arsenals  and  dock 
yards  were  removed.  They  have  four  first  rates 
in  commission  at  Cadiz,  and  very  fine  ships,  but 
shockingly  manned.  If  those  twenty-one  sail  of 
the  line  which  we  are  to  join  in  the  Mediterra- 
nean, are  not  better  manned,  they  cannot  be  of 
much  use.  I  am  certain  if  our  six  barges'  crews, 
who  are  picked  men,  had  got  on  board  one  of 
their  first  rates,  the/  would  have  taken  her. 
The  Dons  may  make  fine  ships,  they  cannot 
however  make  men. 

"  A  Bull  Feast k  was  exhibited,  for  which  the 
Spaniards  are  famous;  and  from  their  dexterity 
in  attacking  and  killing  of  these  animals,  the 
ladies  choose  their  husbands.  We  English  had 
certainly  to  regret  the  want  of  humanity  in  the 
Dons,  and  Donnas.  The  amphitheatre  will  hold 
16,000  people;  about  12,000  were  present.  Teu 
bulls  were  selected,  and  one  brought  out  at  a 

k  A  particular  account  of  these  feasts  is  given  by  the  Rev.  Ed- 
ward Clarke  in  bis  Letters  concerning  the  Spanish  Nation,  1/03. 


time.  Three  cavaliers  on  horseback,  and  foot- 
men with  flugs,  were  the  combatants.  We  had 
what  is  called  a  fine  feast:  for  five  horses  were 
killed,  and  two  men  very  much  hurt,  had  they 
been  killed,  it  would  have  been  quite  complete. 
We  felt  for  the  bulls  and  horses,  and  I  own  it 
would  not  have  displeased  me  to  have  had  some 
of  the  Dons  tossed  by  the  enraged  animal.  How 
women  can  even  sit  out,  much  more  applaud 
such  sights,  is  astonishing.  It  even  turned  us 
sick,  and  we  could  hardly  go  through  it — the 
dead  mangled  horses  with  their  entrails  torn 
out,  and  the  bulls  covered  with  blood,  were 
too  much.  However  we  have  seen  one  Bull 
Feast,  and  agree  that  nothing  shall-  tempt  us 
to  see  another.  The  better  sort  of  people  never 
miss  one,  if  within  reach  of  them  ;  and  the  lowest 
will  sell  his  jacket,  or  go  without  his  victuals, 
rather  than  be  absent. — P.  S.  Gibraltar,  June 
the  24//Z.  We  arrived  here  last  night,  and  in  a 
few  days  sail  shall  be  up  the  Mediterranean. 
God  bless  and  preserve  you." 

On  the  27th  of  June,  the  Agamemnon  sailed 
from  Gibraltar  with  Lord  Hood's  fleet,  nineteen 
sail  of  the  line,  and  a  convoy  of  fifty  sail  of  mer- 
chant ships  under  the  St.  Albans,  Castor,  Bull 
Dog,  and  some  other  frigates,  On  the  30th, 
when  off  Cape  de  Gatte,  the  Iris,  Mermaid,  and 
Tisiphone  were  sent  to  Tunis  and  Tripoli,  and 
1'Aigle  with  letters  to  the  Spanish  Admiral  at 
Barcelona.  In  writing  to  H.  R,  H.  the  Duke  of 


126 

Clarence,  in  the  month  of  August,  he  said,  '*  We 
have  spoke  many  neutral  vessels,  but  got  no  in- 
formation which  in  my  opinion  could  he  depended 
on.     We  saw  a  fleet  off  Alicant  on  the  close  of 
the  7th,   and   lay-to   mid-channel  between  that 
place  and  Ivica.     At  day-light  we  formed   our 
line,  and  soon  perceived  them  to  be  the  Spanish 
fleet,  twenty-four  sail  of  the  line.     The  Dons  did 
not,    after  several  hours  trial,  form  any  thing 
which   could   be  called  a   line  of  battle  ahead. 
However,  after  answering  our  private  signals, 
the   Spanish   Admiral    sent   down    two   frigates, 
with  answers  to  Lord  Hood's  letters  by  1'Aigle, 
acquainting  him,    that  as    their  fleet  was  very 
sickly,  1900  men,  they  were  going  into  Cartha- 
gena.    The  Captain  of  the  frigate  added,  *  it  was 
no  wonder  they  were  sickly,  for  they  had  been 
sixty  days  at  sea.'     This  speech  to  us  appeared 
ridiculous;   for  from  the  circumstance  of  bav- 
ins: been  longer  than  that  time  at  sea.   do   we 

O  O  *  • 

attribute  our  getting  healthy.  The  news  they 
bring  is,  that  the  French  are  preparing  their 
ships  with  forges  for  shot.  This  if  true,  I 
Immbly  conceive,  would  have  been  as  well  kept 
secret;  but  as  it  is  known,  we  must  take  care  to 
get  so  close  that  their  red  hots  may  go  through 
both  sides,  when  it  will  not  matter  whether  they 
are  hot  or  cold. — July  14^//,  the  fleet  hits  re- 
ceived orders  to  consider  Marseilles  and  Toulon 
as  invested,  and  to  take  all  vessels  of  whatever 
nation  bound  into  those  ports.  This  has  pleased 


127 

us  :  if  we  make  these  red  hot  gentlemen  hungry, 
they  may  be  induced  to  come  out." 

The  following  letters  to  Mrs.  Nelson,  and  his 
father,  give  a  further  account  of  the  proceedings 

*     O  1  O 

of  the  fleet.     In  one  from  the  Gulf  of  Lvons,  to 

9 

Mrs.  Nelson,  dated  July  15,  he  says,  "There  seem 
to  he  no  French  ships  at  sea,  at  least  we  have  seen 
nothing  like  one.  We  fell  in  with  the  Spanish 
fleet  a  week  ago  returning  into  port,  I  helieve 
glad  we  are  arrived  ;  and  they  mean  to  leave  us 
the  honour  of  keeping  the  French  in  order.  I 
really  expect  never  to  see  them  again. — IS///. 
We  have  just  got  a  French  sloop  of  war  of  18 
guns,  hound  from  Marseilles  to  Toulon.  Re- 
member me  most  kindly  to  our  good  father." — 
"  August  4th}  off  Toulon.  The  Admiral  has  just 
sent  us  word,  that  the  Aquilon  will  proceed  to 
England  with  Prince  Augustus,  I  therefore  send 
this  letter  on  board,  in  case  Agamemnon  should 
be  on  the  look  out ;  for  as  we  sail  fast,  we  are 
always  employed.  Whether  the  French  intend 
to  come  out,  seems  uncertain  ;  they  have  a  force 
equal  to  us.  Our  Jacks  would  be  very  happy  to 
see  it ;  and,  as  our  fleet  is  in  the  fullest  health,  I 
dare  say  we  should  give  a  good  account  of  them. 
I  hardly  think  the  War  can  last,  for  what  are  we 
at  war  about?  How  I  long  to  have  a  letter  from 
you:  next  to  being  with  you,  it  is  the  greatest 
pleasure  I  can  receive.  The  being  united  to 
such  a  £ood  woman,  I  look  back  to  as  to  the 

o 

happiest  period  of  my  life;  and  as  I  cannot  here 


show  my  affection  to  you,  I  do  it  doubly  to 
Josiah,  who  deserves  it  as  well  on  his  own  ac- 
count, as  on  yours ;  for  he  is  a  real  good  boy, 
and  most  affectionately  loves  me.  Captains 
Lutwidge  and  Man  have  been  very  ill.  Lord 
Hood  has  sent  to  offer  me  a  74,  but  I  have  de- 
clined it ;  as  the  Admiralty  chose  to  put  me  into 
a  6*4,  there  I  stay.  I  cannot  give  up  my  Officers. 
Lord  Hood  approved  of  my  reasons,  so  far  well. 
If  I  have  not  an  opportunity  of  writing  to  my 
good  Father,  send  my  kindest  remembrances  to 
him.  God  bless  you,  and  believe  me  your  most 
affectionate  husband,  Horatio  Nelson.'* 

"  August  20,  off  Toulon.  My  dear  Father  : 
No  occurrence'of  a  public  nature  has  taken  place 
since  our  arrival  here,  and  our  private  ones  are 
confined  to  a  very  narrow  sphere,  which  yet  I  am 
sure  will 'be  considered  by  you  a  valuable  one — 
We  arc  all  well.  The  affairs  of  France  in  this 
country  are  worse  than  ever :  the  guillotine  is 
every  day  employed.  A  master  of  a  ship,  whom 
we  spoke  from  Marseilles,  says,  there  are  novr 
only  two  descriptions  of  people  in  France,  the 
one  drunk  and  mad,  the  other  with  horror 
painted  in  their  faces,  are  absolutely  starving; 
yet  nothing  brings  them  to  their  senses.  A  Peace 
with  England  is  what  they  wish  for ;  and  Pro- 
vence would,  it  is  said,  willingly  put  itself,  as  a 
separate  republic,  under  the  protection  of  Eng- 
land. In  the  winter  we  are  to  reduce  Ville 
Franche  and  Nice  for  the  King  of  Sardinia,  and 


129 

drive  the  French  from  Corsica.  It  seems  of  no 
use  to  send  a  great  Fleet  here  without  Troops  to 
act  with  them. 

"  I  consider  you  now  as  at  high  harvest,  and 
hope  you  have  good  weather  and  good  crops.  I 
hear  Lady  Spencer  and  the  party  are  at  Lucca, 
a  few  miles  from  Pisa.  I  think  we  shall  be  in 
England  in  the  winter  or  spring.  If  the  Burn- 
hamites  inquire  for  me,  make  my  compliments. 
Believe  me  your  most  dutiful  son,  Horatio 
Nelson." 

On  the  23d  of  August,  three  days  after  the  date 
of  this  letter,  Commissioners,  from  Marseilles 
came  on  board  the  Victory,  Lord  Hood's  flag 
ship,  with  full  powers  to  treat 'for  peace,  expect- 
ing to  be  met  by  Commissioners  from  Toulon ; 
declaring  that  a  monarchical  government  in 
France  would  be  the  leading  object  in  their  ne- 
gociation.  A  proclamation  was  accordingly  issued 
by  Admiral  Lord  Hood,  accompanied  by  a  preli- 
minary declaration,  addressed  to  the  inhabitants 
of  the  towns  and  provinces  in  the  south  of  France, 
which  was  sent  on  shore  to  Toulon  and  Marseilles. 
The  rapid  success  of  Carteaux  opened  the  gates 

1  In  accomplishing  this  Treaty,  the  late  Captain  E.  Cooke,  a 
relation  of  Charles  Long,  Esq.  and  Admiral  Sir  Sidney  Smith, 
rendered  essential  service.  An  account  of  the  perils  he  expe- 
rienced are  given  in  a  letter  to  his  father  in  law,  General  Smith 
(Naval  Chronicle,  vol.  ii.  page  378).  The  same  volume  contains 
many  original  documents  of  our  proceedings  on  taking  possession 
of  Toulon. 


130 

of  Marseilles  to  republican  fury  on  the  25th  of 
August;  and  so  alarmed  the  rising  patriotism  of 
the  Toulonese,  that  on  the  very  same  day  the  de- 
puties of  all  the  sections  of  Toulon  agreed  to 
Lord  Hood's  proposal,  and  declared  that  the  cita- 
del and  forts  on  the  coast  should  be  provisionally 
at  his  disposal.  In  this  state  of  the  negociation, 
Captain  Nelson  was  unexpectedly  ordered  to  pro- 
ceed immediately  off  Oneglia,  and  then  in- 
structed to  proceed  to  Naples,  with  despatches 
for  Sir  William  Hamilton  ;  which  being  done,  he 
was  to  join  the  Admiral  in  the  bay  of  Hreres. 

On  the  third  day  after  Captain  Nelson  sailed, 
Lord  Hood  had  obtained  possession  of  fort  La 
Malgue,  situated  on  the  right  of  the  entrance  of 
Toulon  harbour  ;  and  on  the  29th  of  August  he 
anchored  in  the  outer  road  with  the  fleet,  and 
took  possession  of  the  harbour,  arsenal,  and  ships. 
On  the  same  day  Captain  Frcmantle,  who  was  inr 
trusted  with  Lord  Hood's  despatches  to  England, 
was  directed  to  take  Lord  Hugh  Seymour  Conway 
on  board  his  ship,  the  Tartar,  and  to  proceed 
with  him  to  Genoa.  In  performing  this  service, 
the  Tartar  fell  in  with  the  Agamemnon  at  sea, 
when  Captain  Nelson  received  congratulations 
from  Lord  Hugh  on  the  taking  of  Toulon,  with 
some  detail  of  the  proceedings. — During  this  visit 
to  Naples,  Captain  Nelson  was  first  introduced 
to  their  Sicilian  Majesties ;  and  being  lodged  in 
the  house  of  the  English  Ambassador,  he  com- 
menced that  friendship  with  Sir  William  and  Lady 


131 

Hamilton,  which  had  afterwards  so  powerful  an 
influence  both  on  his  professional  and  private 
life.  The  only  account  of  this  visit  that  was 
found  amongst  his  papers,  is  detailed  in  the  fol- 
lowing letters  to  Mrs.  Nelson. 

(17§3.)    "  Begun   off  the  island  of  Sardinia, 

Sept.  7  \fi nished  at  anchor  off  Naples,  Sept.  11.  My 
dear  Fanny,  I  sent  you  a  line  by  Lord  H.Conway, 
who  is  gone  home  with  Lord  Hood's  despatches. 
As  soon  as  the  Treaty  was  concluded,  Aga- 
memnon, a  fast  sailor,  was  sent  off  with  letters  to 
the  courts  of  Turin  and  Naples,  for  ten  thousand 
troops  to  secure  our  possession.  1  should  have 
liked  to  have  stayed  one  day  longer  with  the  Fleet 
when  they  entered  the  harbour ;  but  service 
could  not  be  neglected  for  any  private  gratifica- 
tion. I  have  only  to  hope  I  shall  succeed  with  the 
King  of  Naples.  The  last  visit  he  had  M'as  from 
a  French  grenadier  m  belonging  to  Mons.Truguet's 
Fleet : — how  differently  he  must  feel  at  present ! 

"What  an  event  this  has  been  for  Lord  Hood  ! 
such  a  one  as  history  cannot  produce  its  equal ; 
that  the  strongest  place  in  Europe,  and  twenty- 
two  sail  of  the  line,  &c.  should  be  given  up  with- 
out firing  a  shot.  It  is  not  to  be  credited. 

"  Naples,  Sept.  14.     My  other  letter  will  ar- 

m  With  an  Insolence  peculiar  to  the  French  republic,  the  King 
of  Naples  was  thus  informed,  That  if  he  did  not,  within  an  hour, 
disavow  his  remonstrance  against  the  reception  of  Mons.  Semon-  - 
ville  at  Constantinople,  war  would  be  declared  against  him. 


132 

rive  with  this.  Our  news  was  received  here 
with  the  greatest  satisfaction.  The  King  has 
twice  sent  for. me,  and  I  dine  with  him  to  mor- 
ro\\r,  after  he  has  made  rnc  a  visit  which  he 
is  to  do  on  board  Agamemnon.  We  are  called 
by  him  the  saviours  of  Italy,  and  of  his  dominions 
in  particular.  I  have  acted  for  Lord  Hood  with 
a  zeal  which  no  one  could  exceed,  and  am  to 
carry  from  the  King  the  handsomest  letter  in  his 
own  handwriting  which  could  possibly  be.  Tins 
I  got  through  Sir  William  Hamilton,  and  the 
Prime  Minister,  who  is  an  Englishman.  Lady 
Hamilton  has  been  wonderfully  kind  and  good 
to  Josiah  ;  she  is  a  young  woman  of  amiable  man- 
ners, and  who  does  honour  to  the  station  to  which 
she  is  raised.  I  am  to  carry  Lord  Hood  6000 
troops  from  hence.  Remember  me  to  my  dear 
Father,  also  to  Lord  and  Lady  Walpole.  Believe 
me  your  most  affectionate  husband." 

"  Agamemnon,  Toulon,  Oct.  7.  As  I  never 
omit  an  opportunity  of  writing,  I  shall  not  let 
a  ship  sail  for  Leghorn  without  a  letter.  I  came 
here  two  days  since,  and  shall  sail  on  a  cruise  to- 
morrow. Lord  Hood  is  much  pleased  with  me. 
Our  situation  here  is  wonderful :  the  hills  are  oc- 
cupied by  the  enemy,  who  are  erecting  works  for 
mortars  and  cannon.  Whether  we  shall  be  able 
to  maintain  our  most  extraordinary  acquisition, 
time  only  can  determine :  however  one  hour  will 
burn  the  French  fleet.  You  will  not  forget  me 
to  my  Father.'* 


133  . 
On  the  next  day,  October  9th,  he  received 

*    •  ** 

sealed  orders  from  the  Admiral,  which  were  not 
to  be  opened  until  the  Agamemnon  had  reached 
the   east   end   of  the  island  of  Porqueroll,   one 
of  the  Hieres  cluster.     On   opening;  them,    ac- 
cordingly,   Captain  Nelson  was  directed  to  pro- 
ceed  without    loss   of  time  to  Cagliari,   in   the 
island' of  Sardinia,  where  he  would  find   Com- 
modore   Linzee,    to   whom  he  was  to  deliver  a 
packet,  and    to  follow   his  directions.      On    the 
the    12th    of  October,    he    thus    continued   his 
correspondence:   "  My  dear  Fanny,  Everyday 
at  Toulon  has  hitherto   afforded   some  brilliant 
action    on    shore,    in    which    the    sea    officers 
have  made  a  very  conspicuous  'figure  ;   Elphin- 
stone  °  in  particular,  who  is  a  good  officer  and 
gallant   man.     I   have   only  been   a   spectator; 
but  had  we   remained,    I  should  certainlv  have 
desired  to  be  landed.     Some  of  our  ships  have 
been  pegged  pretty  handsomely ;  yet  such  is  the 
force  of  habit,  that  we  seem  to  feel  no  danger. 
The  other  day  we  sat  at  a  Court  Martial  on  board 
Admiral  Hotham,  when  Princess  Royal,  a  French 
74,  our  friend,   three  frigates,   and  four   mortar 
boats;  were  firing  at  a  battery  for  four  hours;  the 
shot  and  shells  going  over  us;  which,  extraordi- 
nary as  it  may  seem,  made  no  difference.     The 
Ardent,  Captain  Robert  Manners  Sutton,  brother 
to  the  bishop,  was  much  cut  up,  after  behavino* 

0  The  present  Lord  Keith. 


134 

with  the  greatest  gallantry  and  good  conduct ; 
near  thirty  of  his  men  were  either  killed  or  are 
since  dead  of  their  wounds.  Indeed  wherevev 
our  ships  or  sea  officers  have  had  an  oppor- 
tunity, they  have  all  behaved  well.  God  bless 
you." 

XI.  Captain  Nelson's  First  Engagement  with 
the  Enemy,  took  place  in  the  Agamemnon,  on  the 

22d  of  October,  when  detached  from  the  squa- 
dron under  Commodore  Linzee;  and  is  noticed  in 
a  letter  to  his  brother  Maurice,  dated  at  Tunis, 
Nov.  8}  (1793.)  "  On  the  22d  of  October,  off  the 
island  of  Sardinia,  having  only  34.5  men  at  quar- 
ters, the  others  being  landed  at  Toulon  and  in 
prizes,  we  fell  in  with  and  chased  the  following 
French  men  of  war  from  Tunis — Melpomene,  44 
guns,  nine  and  eighteen  pounders,  400  men,  La 
Minerve,  44  guns,  nine  and  eighteen  pounders, 
400  men,  La  Fortunee,  44  guns,  twelve  and 
thirty-six  pounders,  500  men,  Le  Fouchet,  24 
guns,  nine  pounders,  220  men,  Brig,  14  guns, 
nine  pounders,  100  men.  The  Agamemnon, 
after  a  firing  of  near  four  hours,  so  disabled  the 
Melpomene  (as  supposed)  she  being  apparently 
in  a  sinking  state,  that  the  other  ships  declined 
bringing  the  Agamemnon  again  to  action,  and,  as 
it  appeared,  to  take  care  of  their  companion  ; 
since  they  had  the  option  to  renew  the  engage- 
ment for  three  hours,  after  the  Melpomene  hauled 
from  us.  The  Agamemnon  was  so  cut  to  pieces 


135 

as    to    be    unable   to   haul   the    wind   towards 
them." 

Captain  Nelson,  who  had  at  that  time  called 
his  officers   together,   amongst  other  questions 
asked  them,  "  From  what  you  see  of  the  state  of 
our  ship,  is  she  fit  to  go  into  action  with  such  a 
superior  force  against  us,  without  some  small  refit 
and    refreshment    of    our  people?"      She   cer- 
tainly is   not.       His  orders   then  were,  "  Veer 
the  ship,  and  lay  her  head  to  the  westward ;  let 
some  of  the  best  men  be  employed  refitting  the 
rigging,  and  the  carpenters  getting  crows  and 
capstern  bars  to  prevent  our  wounded  spars  from 
coming  down,  and  get  the  wine  up  for  the  peo- 
ple, with  some  bread  ;  for  it  may  be  half  an  hour 
good,   before  we    are   again  in  action." — Lord 
Hood,   in   his    letter    to    the  Admiralty,    dated 
November   13th,   did  not   fail  to  mention   this 
event.     "  On  the  22d  of  last  month,  the  Aga- 
memnon fell  in  with  the  four  frigates,  that  had 
left  the  bay  of  Tunis,  each  carrying  28  eigh- 
teen pounders,  and  a  corvette  of  14  nine  poun- 
ders, and  had  a  partial  action  with  one  of  the 
frigates,    which   sailed  superior  to  the   reft ;    I 
since  find  they  are  all  arrived  at  St.  Fiorenzo  in 
Corsica." 

(1793.)  Some  further  account  of  this  event,  and 
of  the  subsequent  proceedings  of  the  Agamemnon, 
are  preserved  in  the  following  letters  ;  the  first  of 
which  was   addressed  by  Mr.  William  Hoste,   a 
midshipman  on  board  the  Agamemnon,  then  in 


136 

his  thirteenth  year,  to  his  p  father,  Nov.  27. 
After  giving  an  account  of  the  negociation  at 
Tunis,  under  Commodore  Linzee,  Mr.  Hoste 
thus  proceeds :  "  On  the  22d  of  October,  when 
running  down  the  island  of  Sardinia,  about  two 
o'clock  in  the  morning,  being  off  Monte  Santo, 
twenty  leagues  to  the  northward  of  Cagliari, 
we  saw  five  sail  of  ships  standing  to  the  N.  W  : 
on  observing  us,  they  tacked  and  stood  to  the 
eastward.  Captain  Nelson,  suspecting  them  to 
be  a  French  Convoy,  immediately  stood  after 
them.  About  three  o'clock  we  were  very  near 
up  with  the  hindermost,  and  at  four  got  within 
gunshot.  We  hailed  her  in  French,  but  receiv- 
ing no  answer  fired  a  gun  ahead,  for  her  to 
bring-to,  and  shorten  sail ;  when  we  observed 
her  making  signals  with  sky-rockets  to  her  con- 
sorts, which  were  at  some  distance  to  windward. 
After  we  had  repeatedly  hailed  to  no  purpose,  we 
fired  one  of  our  eighteen  pounders  at  her,  to 
oblige  them  to  shorten  sail ;  and  at  the  same  time 
opened  our  lower  deck  ports,  which  frightened 
her,  as  she  immediately  made  sail  to  get  away; 
from  which  it  appears  that  she  took  us  for  a  fri- 
gate. It  was  daylight  before  we  got  up  with  her 
again,  as  she  had  the  start  of  us.  About  five 
A.M.  we  came  within  half  gun  shot,  and  found 
her  to  be  q,  fine  forty  gun  frigate ;  she  hoisted 

P  The  Rev.  Dixon  Hoste,  of  Godwick,  Norfolk,  an  early 
friend  of  Captain  Nelson's  family.  His  son  at  present  com- 
mands the  Amphion. 


137 

national  colours,  and  favoured  us  with  a  broad- 
side. We  returned  the  compliment,  but  our 
situation  was  rather  unfavourable,  and  our  shot 
did  not  at  all  times  hit  her ;  whilst  she,  owing  to 
her  superiority  of  sailing,  kept  her  position  and 
pointed  her  guns  to  advantage,  firing  in  an  angu- 
lar direction,  which  did  more  execution.  She 
bravely  engaged  us  in  this  manner  for  three 
hours,  both  ships  sailing  at  the  rate  of  six  knots 
an  hour,  until  by  our  constant  firing  it  fell  calm. 
The  other  frigates  were  coming  after  us  with  a 
fresh  breeze;  consequently  we  expected  to  have 
warm  work,  and  were  therefore  anxious  to  des- 
patch this  gentleman  before  they  arrived  :  but, 
about  eight  o'clock,  by  an  alteration  of  the  wind, 
our  antagonist  got  out  of  the  reach  of  our  guns. 
Our  last  broadside  did  infinite  damage  ;  nor  was 
what  we  had  received  inconsiderable,  as  our 
rigging  was  shot  away,  and  our  main  topmast 
broken,  which  prevented  us  from  going  after 

the  frigate.     We  had  one  man  killed,  and  two 

0  / 

wounded. 

"  By  this  time  the  other  ships  were  within  a 
league  of  us,  the  nearest  one  appeared  to  be  of 
the  same  force  as  ourselves  ;  and,  as  the  rest  were, 
coming  down  with  all  sail  set,  we  expected 
.nothing  less  than  that  they  would  engage  us,  and 
we  accordingly  prepared  for  their  reception : 
but  their  courage  failed  them,  for  we  had  given 
their  friend  so  complete  a  drubbing,  that  she 
made  signals  of  distress;  upon  which  all  of  them 


138 


went  to  her  assistance,  and  hoisted  their  boats 
out.  We  accordingly  pursued  our  destined  course 
to  Cagliari ;  being  satisfied  with  offering  them 
battle. 

tf  Had  the  breeze  continued,  we  should  have 
preserved  our  distance  from  the  other  frigates, 
and  our  antagonist  must  have  struck,  or  sunk ; 
though  if  she  had  struck  we  could  not  have  taken 
possession  of  her,  in  sight  of  a  force  so  superior. 
The  Agamemnon  had  only  350  men  at  quarters, 
and  consequently  was  not  better  than  a  fifty  gun 
ship.  Captain  Nelson  is  acknowledged  to  be 
one  of  the  first  Characters  in  the  Service,  and  is 
universally  beloved  by  his  men  and  officers." 

(1793.)  The  following  extract  from  Lord  Hood's 
Orders  dated  Nov.  1 5,  to  Commodore  Linzee  then 
lying  at  Tunis,  shews  that  Admiral's  confidence 
in  the  zeal  and  enterprise  of  Nelson.  "  You  are  to 
expostulate  with  his  Excellency  the  Bey,  q  in  the 
strongest  and  most  impressive  manner,  on  the 
impolicy  of  his  giving  countenance  and  support 
to  so  heterogeneous  a  government  as  the  present 
one  of  France ;  composed  of  murderers  and  assas- 

q  This  Bey  of  Tunis  was  a  Chief  of  very  superior  abilities,  and 
at  the  conference  which  Captain  Nelson  held  with  him,  displayed 
a  quickness  of  talents,  which  even  disconcerted  the  Captain  of 
the  Agamemnon.  On  being  told  of  the  excesses  which  the  French 
government  had  committed,  he  drily  observed,  "  That  nothing 
could  be  more  heinous  than  the  murder  of  their  Sovereign  :  and 
yet,  Sir,"  added  he,  "  if  your  historians  tell  the  truth,  your  own 
countrymen  once  did  the  same." 


139 

sins,  who  have  recently  beheaded  their  Queen 
in  a  manner  that  would  disgrace  the  most  bar- 
barous savages.  And  as  the  four  frigates,  which 
the  Agamemnon  fell  in  with,  got  to  St.  Fiorenzo 
in  Corsica,  and  will  probably  make  for  Villa- 
franca,  whenever  they  are  able,  as  they  can  get 
no  supplies  at  St.  Fiorenzo ;  I  direct  you  to  send 
Nelson  immediately  to  cruise  from  Calvi  to  the 
gulf  of  Especia,  to  look  out  for  them ;  but  not 
to  let  it  be  known  where  he  is  gone,  and  to  take 
under  his  command  such  ships  as  he  may  find  on 
that  station,  which  are  the  Mermaid,  Tartar, 
Topaze  French  frigate,  and  Scout  brig,  and  pro- 
bably the  Amphitrite." 

During  the  time  in  which  the  Agamemnon 
was  thus  engaged,  Lieutenant  General  O'Hara, 
being  appointed  Governor  of  Toulon  and  Com- 
mander of  the  forces,  had  arrived  there  on  the 
25th  of  October,  with  a  considerable  reinforce- 
ment; and  by  his  Majesty's  commission,  Lord 
Hood,  Sir  Gilbert  Elliot,  and  the  Lieutenant 
General,  were  appointed  Commissioners  for  ne- 
gotiating and  concluding  all  civil  arrangements 
in  the  south  of  France.  On  the  20th  of  Novem- 
ber this  commission  was  opened,  and  a  declara- 
tion was  made  in  his  Majesty's  name,  assuring 
the  inhabitants  of  protection.  But  the  trea- 
chery of  our  perfidious  Allies  was  at  the  same 
moment  secretly  counteracting  the  able  measures 
that  had  been  taken,  The  French  army  before 
Toulon  amounted  to  40,000  men,  and  even  this 
force,  after  the  surrender  of  Lyons,  became 


140 

daily  augmented.  Their  artillery  was  com- 
manded by  Buonaparte,  then  a  Captain,  who 
during  this  Siege  first  displayed  his  military 
talents,  and  thus  recommended  himself  to  the 
notice  of  Commissioner  Barras — The  army  of 
our  Allies,  composed  of  different  nations,  and 
consequently  speaking  different  languages,  never 
exceeded  16,100:  Yet,  notwithstanding  this  dis- 
parity of  numbers,  if  it  had  not  been  for  the  un- 
accountable panic  which  seized  the  Neapolitan 
troops,  during  the  sitting  of  the  council  of  war 
that  was  held  in  the  forenoon  of  Dec.  17th,  and 
the  shameful  remissness  of  Admiral  Langara,  Lord 
Hood's  arrangement  would  have  been  completely 
executed  for  destroying  all  the  French  ships  in 
the  arsenal  and  bason  before  the  town,  together 
with  the  magazine,  the  arsenal  itself,  and  the  vari- 
ous stores  it  contained.  Ten  ships,  however,  of  the 
line  in  the  arsenal,  with  three  frigates  and  two  cor- 
vettes, together  with  the  mast-house,  great  store- 
house, hemp- house,  and  other  buildings,  were 
destroyed  by  Sir  Sidney  Smith  and  the  officers 
under  his  orders ;  and  three  ships  of  the  line, 
five  frigates,  and  seven  corvettes,  besides  many 
{smaller  vessels,  accompanied  the  British  Fleet. 
This  memorable  transaction  is  detailed  in  the  fol- 
lowing letter  from  Captain  Nelson,  to  His  R.  H. 
the  Duke  of  Clarence.  "Agamemnon,  Leghorn 
Roads  December  27,  1793.  Sir:  My  last  letter 
to  your  Royal  Highness,  would  convey  to  you 
my  opinion  of  the  impossibility  of  holding Tou- 


141 

Ion,  without  a  superior  Army  in  the  field  ;  but  the 
fall  of  it  has  been  something  quicker  than  I  ex- 
pected, owing  to  the  foreign  troops  having  but 
very  badly  defended  some  of  the  out-posts,  as 
reported  here  by  several  vessels  with  some  of  the 
wretched  inhabitants  of  Toulon.  Lord  Hood  is 
said  to  have  attempted  rallying  the  flying  troops, 
but  in  vain  ;  and  that  he  exposed  himself  to  great 
danger.  The  reports,  although  there  is  some  dif- 
ference in  the  telling,  all  seem  to  agree  that  the 
following  are  facts:  That  on  the  13th  a  most 
numerous  Army  covered -the  hills;  that  Lord 
Hood  issued  a  proclamation  to  prepare  the  inha- 
bitants for  what  would  probably  happen,  the  eva- 
cuation of  Toulon  ;  that  on  the  17th,  at  eight 
o'clock  at  night,  the  enemy  made  a  general 
attack  on  all  our  out-posts,  which  lasted  the 
whole  night,  many  of  which  they  carried  with 
too  much  ease ;  that  the  other  out-posts  were 
obliged  to  be  abandoned,  and  the  troops  to  retire 
to  fort  la  Malgue  :  That  on  the  18th,  Lord  Hood 
ordered  all  the  Neapolitans  to  be  embarked  to- 
gether, with  as  many  royalists  as  could  find  ships 
to  carry  them  ;  and  that  our  Fleet  with  that  of 
Spain  was  anchored  under  la  Malgue.  On  the 
19th,  in  the  morning,  such  a  scene  was  displayed, 
as  would  make  the  hardest  heart  feel :  the  mob 
had  risen,  was  plundering,  and  committing  every 
excess;  many,  numbers  cannot  be  estimated,  were 
drowned  in  trying  to  get  off;  boats  upset,  and 
many  put  a  period  to  their  existence.  One 


142 

family  of  a  wife  and  five  children  are  just  arrived, 
the  husband  shot  himself.  Indeed,  Sir,  the  re- 
cital of  their  Miseries  is  too  afflicting  to  dwell 
upon.  In  this  scene  of  horror  Lord  Hood  was 
obliged  to  order  the  French  Fleet  of  twenty  sail 
of  the  line,  and  as  many  other  ships  of  war,  to- 
gether with  the  arsenal  and  powder  magazines, 
to  be  set  on  fire:  report  says  one  half  of  that 
miserable  place  is  in  ashes.  The  quitting  Toulon 
by  us,  I  am  satisfied,  is  a  national  benefit ;  both 
in  money,  for  our  contracts  will  be  found  to  have 
been  very  extravagant,  people  seeming  to  act  as 
if  fortunes  were  to  be  made  instantly;  and  in 
saving  some  of  our  gallant  English  blood,  which, 
when  the  muster  comes  to  be  taken,  will  appear 
to  have  flowed  plentifully.  The  destruction  of  the 
Fleet  and  Arsenal,  and  indeed  of  the  Harbour  of 
Toulon  for  a  number  of  years,  is  a  great  benefit 
to  England.*' 

(1793.)  "  Agamemnon,  Dec.  97.  My  dear 
Fanny,  Every  thing  which  domestic  wars  produce 
usually  has  been  multiplied  at  Toulon.  In  short 
all  is  horror.  I  have  the  Count  de  Grasse  under 
my  command,  in  a  French  frigate ;  his  wife  and 
family  are  at  Toulon.  Lord  flood  put  himself  at 
the  head  of  the  flying  troops,  and  was  the  admi- 
ration of  every  one;  but  the  torrent  was  toostrong. 
Many  of  our  posts  were  carried  without  resist- 
ance ;  at  others,  which  the  English  occupied, 
every  one  perished.  I  cannot  write  all :  my 
mind  is  deeply  impressed  with  grief.  Each 


143 

teller  makes  the  scene  more  horrible.  Lord  Hood 
shewed  himself  the  same  collected  good  officer 
which  he  always  was. — I  have  only  time  to  say, 
God  bless  you." 

In  the  preceding  months  of  August  and  Sep- 
tember, Lord  Hood  had  received  pressing  letters 
from  General  Paoli,  representing  the  facility 
with  which  the  French  might  be  driven  from 
their  posts  in  Corsica ;  the  vulnerable  points  of 
attack  were  pointed  out,  and  it  was  intimated, 
that  even  the  appearance  of  a  few  ships  would 
prove  of  essential  service,  provided  it  should  not 
be  judged  expedient  to  make  an  attack  by  them 
on  any  of  the  forts.  His  Lordship  was  therefore 
induced  to  order  a  small  Squadron  to  sail  early  in 
September  for  Corsica,  under  the  command  of 
Commodore  Linzee,  consisting  of  three  ships  of 
the  line,  and  two  frigates.  Soon  after  the  eva- 
cuation of  Toulon,  Captain  Edward  Cooke  had 
been  sent  on  a  mission  to  General  Paoli,  to  know 
the  real  posture  of  affairs  in  Corsica,  and  what 
the  General  had  distinctly  to  propose,  for  dis- 
possessing the  French  of  the  posts  they  occupied 
in  that  island.  Captain  Cooke  returned  from 
Corsica,  and  joined  Lord  Hood  in  Hieres  Bay  on. 
the  7th  of  January,  (1794,)  and  delivered  a  letter 
from  General  Paoli;  making  absolute  proposals, 
and  fresh  assurances  of  the  active  cooperation 
of  his  brave  Corsicans,  to  drive  the  French  from 
their  strong  holds.  In  the  meantime  Captain 
Nelson  was  kept  cruising  off  Corsica  with  a 


144 

small  Squadron,  to  prevent  the  French  from  re- 
ceiving supplies  ;  and  Lord  Hood,  having  on  the 
2Sd  of  January  received  a  very  encouraging 
report  from  Lieutenant  Colonel  Moore  and  Major 
Koehler,  whom  he  had  sent  to  General  Paoli,  and 
at  the  same  time  certain  information  that  the 
French  had  actually  embarked  at  Nice  8000 
troops,  which  were  at  all  risks,  to  proceed  to 
Corsica  under  convoy  of  two  frigates,  a  corvette, 
and  some  other  armed  vessels  ;  his  Lordship  that 
evening  detached  three  more  frigates  to  Captain 
Nelson,  the  more  effectually  to  line  the  coast  and 
to  guard  Bastia  also.  The  next  morning  Lord 
Hood  put  to  sea,  accompanied  by  sixty  sail  of 
ships  and  vessels,  including  army  victuallers  and 
transports,  having  upwards  of  2000  unfortunate 
Toulonese  on  board.  The  distinguished  part 
which  Captain  Nelson  took  in  the  succeeding 
Sieges  of  Bastia  and  Calvi,  has  never  yet  been 
detailed. 

XII.  A  letter  to  Mrs.  Nelson,  which  was  dated 
off  Calvi,  January  6th,  brings  up  his  own  relation  to 
the  end  of  that  month  : — "  I  left  Leghorn  on  the 
3d,  and  very  soon  got  off  here,  since  which  time 
we  have  had  nothing  but  hard  gales  of  wind,  and 
the  heaviest  rains  I  almost  ever  met  with.  I  am 
waiting  anxiously  for  troops  from  Lord  Hood  to 
take  St.  Fiprenzo,  and  the  frigates  which  will 
fall  into  our  hands  a  few  hours  after  their  arrival. 
I  was  most  unfortunately  driven  a  few  miles  to 
leeward  two  days  ago,  in  the  height  of  the  gale; 


145 

and  a  frigate  took  that  opportunity  of  sailing 
.from  St.  Fiorenzo  to  Calvi  with  provisions.  One 
of  ray  frigates  exchanged  a  few  shot  with  her, 
but  at  too  great  a  distance  to  prevent  her  from 
getting  in.  I  had  so  closely  blockaded  Calvi, 
that  they  must  have  surrendered  to  me  at  discre- 
tion ;  not  a  vessel  had  before  got  in  for  the  six 
weeks  I  have  been  stationed  here.  This  supply 
will  keep  them  a  week  or  two  longer. — We  now 
know  from  a  deserter,  that  it  was  the  Melpomene 
who  engaged  us  on  October  22:  she  had  twenty- 
four  men  killed,  and  fifty  wounded,  and  was  so 
much  damaged  as  to  be  laid  up  dismantled  in  St. 
Fiorenzo  ;  she  would  have  struck  long  before  we 
parted,  but  for  the  gunner  who  opposed  it ;  and 
when  at  length  the  colours  were  ordered  to 
be  struck  by  general  consent,  we  ran  into  a  calm, 
whilst  the  other  ships  came  up  with  a  fresh  breeze 
and  joined  their  consort.  Admiral  TrogofF  tells 
me,  she  is  allowed  to  be  the  finest  frigate  out  of 
France,  and  the  fastest  sailer;  we  were  unlucky 
to  select  her,  the  others  we  could  outsail.  Had  she 
struck,  I  don't  think  the  others  would  have  come 
down,  and  I  should  have  had  great  credit  in 
taking  her  from  such  superior  force:  now  of 
course  nothing  can  be  known  of  that  business, 
and  I  have  to  look  out  for  another  opportunity, 
which  is  very  scarce  here. 

"  I  have  just  received  a  most  handsome  letter 
from  Lord  Hood,  he  looks  upon  these  frigates  as 
certain,  trusting  to  my  zeal  and  activity,  and 


146 

knows,  if  it  is  in  the  power  of  man  to  have  them, 
I  will  secure  them.  Linzee  M-as  to  have  been  here 
for  this  service,  and  to  settle  plans  with  General 
Paoli,  the  chief  of  the  Corsicans,  relative  to  land- 
ing the  troops,  &c.  Andrews  is  my  ambassador. 
This  business  going  through  my  hands,  is  a  proof 
of  Lord  Hood's  confidence  in  me,  and  that  I 
shall  pledge  myself  for  nothing,  but  what  will  be 
acceptable  to  him.  I  have  promised  my  people 
as  soon  as  we  have  taken  Corsica,  that  I  would 
ask  for  a  month's  rest  for  them.  Except  to  get 
provisions,  I  have  not  been  one  hour  at  anchor 
for  pleasure,  since  April  23d;  but  I  can  assure 
you  I  never  was  better  in  health,  as  is  Josiah. 
On  Sunday  I  expect  Lord  Hood  and  the  troops. 
Hoste  is  indeed  a  most  exceeding  good  boy,  and 
will  shine  in  our  Service.  \Vesliall  talk  these 
matters  over  again  in  a  winter's  evening." 

(1794.)  In  another  letter  to  his  wife,  from 
Leghorn,  Jan.  30th,  he  mentioned  an  instance 
of  his  bravery,  previous  to  the  landing  of  the 
troops.  "  I  was  blown  off  my  station  on  the 
28th,  in  the  hardest  gale  almost  ever  remembered 
here.  The  Agamemnon  did  well,  but  lost  every 

C7  * 

sail  in  her.  Lord  Hood  had  joined  me  off 
Corsica  the  day  before ;  and  would  have  lauded 
the  troops,  but  the  gale  dispersed  them  over 
the  face  of  the  waters.  The  Victory  was  very 
near  lost,  however  we  are  safe;  a  number  of  trans- 
ports are  missing.  I  am  fearful  the  enemy  wilt 
get  their  troops  from  France  before  I  can  return 


147 

to  my  station,  which  will  be  a  vexing  thing  after 
my  two  months  hard  fag.  A  circumstance  hap- 
pened a  few  days  past,  which  gave  me  great  sa- 
tisfaction. January  2 1st,  the  French  having 
their  storehouse  of  flour  near  a  water-mill  close 
to  St.  Fiorenzo,  I  seized  a  happy  moment,  and 
landed  sixty  soldiers  and  sixty  seamen  in  spite 
of  opposition.  At  landing,  our  sailors  threw  all  the 
flour  into  the  sea,  burned  the  mill,  the  only  one 
they  have,  and  returned  on  board  without  the 
loss  of  a  man.  The  French  sent  1000  me"n  at 
least  against  them,  and  gun-boats,  &c.  but  the 
shot  went  over  them,  and  they  were  just  within 
reach  of  my  guns—  it  has  pleased  Lord  Hood,  but 
this  dreadful  gale  may  have  blown  it  out  of  his 
memory." 

On  the  3d  of  February,  1794,  Captain  Wolse- 
ley,  of  the  Lowestoffe,  hoisted  his  colours  close 
off  the  fort  of  Centuri,  when  all  the  vessels  in  the 
harbour  immediately  displayed  national  colours. 
On  the  5th,  Captain  Nelson  ordered  him  to  land 
his  marines,  with  those  of  the  Romulus,  and  take 
the  vessels.  Opposition  was  made,  and  one  man 
was  wounded  belonging  to  the  latter  ship.  Seve- 
ral of  the  enemy  were  killed,  and  four  vessels 
laden  with  wine  were  burnt.  The  troops,  under 
the  command  of  Lieutenant  General  Dundas, 
had  been  disembarked  from  the  squadron  of  ships 
and  transports,  commanded  by  Commodore  Lin- 
zee,  in  a  bay  in  the  gulf  of  St.  Fiorenzo,  to  the 
westward  of  Martello  point.  On'  the  8th  ^f 


148 

February,  Captain  Xelson,  who  was  detached, 
sent  the  following  letters  to  Lord  Hood.  "  My 
Lord  :  Yesterday  at  Porto  Nuovo  they  hoisted 
national  colours  as  I  passed,  as  also  the  vessels  in 
the  harbour.  I  went  to  1'Avisina,  but  there  was 
no  ship  there.  Captain  Fremantle  tells  me,  a 
ship  under  Ragusan  colours  is  in  Bastia.  This 
morning  being  very  fine,  I  anchored  off  Regliani, 
and  sent  on  shore  to  say,  "That  I  was  come  to  de- 
liver them  from  the  republicans,  and  wished  to  be 
received  as  a  friend  :  but  that  if  a  musket  was 
fired,  I  would  burn  the  town."  The  answer  from 
the  Commandant  was  as  follows, 

We  are  Republicans ;  that  word  alone  ought  to 
satisfy  you.  It  is  not  to  Magginagio,  a  place  with- 
out defence,  you  ought  to  address  yourself.  Go  to 
St.  Fiorenzo,  to  Bastia,  or  Calvi,  and  they  will 
answer  you  according  to  your  wishes.  As  to  the 
troops  whom  I  command,  they  are  ready  to  shew  you 
that  they  are  composed  of  French  soldiers. 

11  Upon  receiving  this  answer  I  landed,  and 
struck  the  National  colours  with  my  own  hand 
on  the  top  of  an  old  castle,  and  ordered  the  Tree 
of  liberty  in  the  centre  of  the  town  to  be  cut 
down,  not  without  great  displeasure  from  the  in- 
habitants. The  military  Commandant  retired  to 
a  hill  about  two  miles  distant,  where  he  paraded 
the  troops,  and  kept  the  national  flag  flying  all 
day.  We  destroyed  about  500  tons  of  wine  ready 
to  be  shipped,  and  ten  sail  of  vessels." 

Whilst  the  indefatigable  Captain  of  the  Aga- 
memnon was  thus  actively  employed  on  the  other 


149 

side  of  the  promontory  of  Cape  Corse,  in  pre- 
venting succours  from  going  into  Bastia,  Erba- 
Jonga,  or  any  of  the  villages  to  the  northward  of 
the  capital,  the  invasion  of  the  Island  in  the 
bay  of  St.  Fiorenzo,  had  commenced  with  much 
spirit  by  our  troops  under  Lieutenant  General 
Dundas,  assisted  with  the  great  exertions  of  our 
seamen ;  who  by  dragging  guns  up  the  almost 
perpendicular  precipices,  had  gained  possession  of 
the  heights  above  the  Tower  of  Martello. 

On  the  8th  of  February,  General  Dundas  and 
Commodore  Linzee  having  been  of  opinion,  that 
it  would  be  advisable  to  attack  this  Tower  in  the 
first  instance  from  the  bay,  the  Fortitude,  Captain 
William  Young,  and  the  Juno,  Captain  Samuel 
Hood,  were  ordered  to  make  the  attempt ;  but 
after  a  cannonade  of  two  hours  and  a  half,  during 
which  the  former  ship  was  very  much  damaged 
by  red  hot  shot,  both  hauled  off.  The  walls  of 
this  Tower  were  of  a  prodigious  thickness,  and 
the  parapet,  where  there  was  one  gun,  an  eighteen 
pounder  commanding  the  bay,  and  one  six  poun- 
der directed  to  the  height,  was  lined  with  bass 
junk  five  feet  from  the  wall,  and  filled  up  with 
sand  ;  and  although  it  was  cannonaded  from  the 
height  for  two  clays  afterwards,  within  the  dis- 
tance of  one  hundred  and  fifty  yards,  the  enemy 
still  held  out.  At  length  a  few  hot  shot  having 
set  fire  to  the  bass  junk,  they  called  for  quarter. 
The  number  of  men  found  in  the  Tower  was  only 
thirty- three,  two  of  whom  were  mortally  wounded, 


150 

The  gallant  defence  which  had  been  made  by  them 
against  a  line  of  battle  ship  and  a  frigate  by  so 
few  men  with  only  one  gun,  .excited  the  sur- 
prise both  of  our  naval  and  military  officers. 

Previous  to  the  surrender  of  the  MarteHo 
tower,  Lieutenant  Colonel  Moore  had  been  de- 
tached with  some  light  artillery  through  a  moun- 
tainous country  that  was  without  roads,  to  make 
an  attempt  on  the  batteries  of  Fornelli.  On 
examining  their  situation  it  was  deemed  expe- 
dient to  return,  and  to  endeavour  to  transport 
some  heavy  cannon  to  the  heights  which  over- 
looked these  batteries.  This  arduous  task  was 
accomplished  by  the  officers  and  seamen  of  the 
navy,  after  a  most  severe  fatigue  during  four 
days;  and  at  eight  o'clock  in  the  evening  of  the 
17th  of  February,  after  a  spirited  attack,  in 
which  Lieutenant  Colonels  Moore  and  Wauchope, 
and  Captain  Stewart,  particularly  distinguished 
themselves,  Fornelli  was  carried,  and  the  bay  and 
town  of  St.  Fiorenzo  were  consequently  in  our 
possession. 

The  French  having  retreated  to  Bastia,  the  re- 
duction of  that  capital  was  immediately  resolved 
on  by  Lord  Hood,  who  submitted  his  plan  to 
General  Dundas  for  his  cooperation.  The  Ge- 
neral declined  it,  as  being  impracticable  and  vi- 
sionary, without  the  reinforcement  of  2000  troops 
which  he  expected  from  Gibraltar.  Lord  Hood 
therefore  resolved  to  reduce  Bastia  with  the 
naval  force,  thatM'as  entrusted  to  his  command. 


151 

Captain  Nelson,  who  as  already  noticed  had 
besn  detached  from  the  fleet,  in  a  letter  to  his 
wife  dated  at  sea  February  13,  said,  "  I  am  just 
going  into  Leghorn  to  get  water.  Corsica  [  hope 
will  fall  in  due  time.  Commodore  Linzee  has  the 
command  of  the  sea  business,  Lord  Hood  is  in 
the  offing.  I  have  had  the  pleasure  to  fulnl  the 
service  I  have  been  employed  upon,  since  leaving 
Tunis,  neither  allowing  provisions  nor  troops  to 
get  into  Corsica,  nor  the  frigates  to  come  out.  I 
am  next  going  to  cruise  off  Bastia,  to  prevent 
succours  from  getting  in  there.  Corsica  is  a 
wonderfully  fine  island.  We  are  anxious  to  hear 
how  Parliament  likes  the  war.  I  am  still  of  opi- 
nion it  cannot  last  much  longer;  not  by  the 
French  having  an  .absolute  monarchy  again,  but 
by  our  leaving  them  alone,  perhaps  the  wisest 
method  we  can  follow.  You  will  remember  me 
in  the  kindest  manner  to  my  Father.  God  bless 
you." — On  the  lo,th  of  February,  (1794)  he 
landed  at  1'Avisena,  took  the  tower  of  Miomo, 
three  miles  distant  from  Bastia,  and  drove  the 
French  within  gun-shot  of  the  walls  of  that  city. 

On  the  subsequent  taking  of  St.  Fiorenzo, 
Captain  Nelson  sent  the  following  letter  to  the 
Admiral,  dated  Feb.  22.  "  I  beg  most  sincerely 
to  congratulate  your  Lordship  on  the  taking  St. 
Fiorenzo.  We  sa\v  plainly,  when  evening  set  in 
on  the  l^th,  the  fire  at  Fiorenzo,  and  had  no 
doubt  but  it  was  the  frigates  that  were  burning. 


152 

We  were  close   to   Bastia.     On  receiving  your 
letter  I   bore  away  for  the  Cape,   and   am  now 
going  to  take  another  look  at  Bastia,   when  I 
shall  send  this  letter.     To  the  northward  of  the 
town  and   three    miles   distant,   troops   may   be 
safely  landed  ;  there  is  a  good  road  for  marching 
all  the  way  to  Bastia,  but  not  for  heavy  artillery ; 
probably  landing-places    may   be  found  to  the 
northward  of  it,  and  much   nearer  than  three 
miles.     I  see  that  the  little  camp  with  two  guns, 
en  barbette,  is  intended  to  prevent  any  landing 
to  the  southward,  as  I  make  no  doubt  their  shot 
would  reach  to  the  opening  of  the  lagoon ;  but 
our  troops  may  land  under  cover  of  gun-boats, 
and  ether  small  vessels,   although  ships  cannot 
get  in.     Every  defence  of  Bastia  is  plainly  to  be 
seen  from  the  sea,  and  in  my  opinion  it  would 
soon  fall.     Yesterday  a  very  large   Swedish  ship 
from  the    Levant,  laden  with  corn,  was  within 
two  miles  of  Bastia,  and  I  believe  intended   for 
that  port ;  but  if  not,  the  boats  would  have  carried 
her  in,  had  we  not   been  between  her  and  the 
town.     Saturday  evening  :    I  have  just  had  a  boat 
off  from  Erbalonga,  they  say  that  our  landing  at 
1'Avisena  and  marching  so  near  Bastia,  has  been 
of  the  greatest  service  to  them,   as  the  enemy 
intended  that  night  to  have  come  with  gun-boats 
and  troops,  and  to  have  burnt  all  the  revolted 
villages.     All  the  Cor'sicans,  to  the  very  walls  of 
Basiia,  have  declared  for  us,  and  they  tell  me  not 


153 

much  less  than  1000  are  now  under  the  outworks 
of  Bastia;  and  indeed  we  have  seen  the  firing  of 
musketry  the  whole  evening. 

"   Sunday  noon.     It  is   only  just  now  that  I 

have  been  able  to  examine   Bastia  more  closely. 

I  find  the  enemy  every  hour  are  strengthening 

their  works.     The  two  guns  mounted  en  barbette 

are  now  forming  a  half  moon  battery.     I  passed 

close  with  Romulus  and  Tartar,   and  the  enemy 

opened  their  fire  from  the -battery.    We  directly 

dislodged  them,  and   they  to  a  man  quitted  the 

works.      The  town  opened  on  us  also«\vith  shot 

and  shells,   but  without  doing  us  any  damage  of 

consequence,  our  guns  were  so  exceedingly  well 

pointed,   that  not  one  shot  was  fired  in  vain  ;   a 

parcel  of  powder  in  one  of  their  batteries  blew 

up,    and   apparently    did   considerable   damage. 

Indeed,   my  Lord,  I  wish  the  troops  were  here. 

Bastia,  I  am  sure,  in  its  present  state,  would  soon 

fall.     I  don't  think  the  Corsicans  have  the  strong 

post    General    Paoli   mentions,  or  I  must  have 

have   known  it.     They  tell  me  the  garrison  of 

Fiorenzo  is  orot  into  Bastia." 

O 

(1794.)  In  consequence  of  this  information, 
Lord  Hood  sailed  on  the  23d  of  February,  and  ap- 
peared with  part  of  his  fleet  off  Bastia,  whilst 
another  squadron  was  employed  watching  some 
French  ships  at  Toulon  ;  and,  with  his  accustomed 
perseverance,  the  Admiral  continued  to  cruise 
there  for  a  fortnight,  that  he  might  gain  every 
possible  intelligence.  Finding  that  General 
Dundas  adhered  to  his  former  opinion,  Lord 


154 

Hood  demanded,  that  the  remains  of  the  llth, 
25th,  30th,  and  (K)th  regiments,  under  Lieute- 
nant Colonel  Vilettes,  should  immediately  re- 
turn on  board  their  respective  ships,  in  which 
they  had  been  originally  ordered  by  his  Majesty 
to  serve  as  Marines  ;  and  were  consequently  borne 
on  the  books  of  those  ships,  as  part  of  their  re- 
spective complements. 

Captain  Nelson  joined  Lord  Hood  Feb.  27th, 
and  on  the  next  day  the  whole  of  the  fleet, 
except  the  Agamemnon,  and  a  frigate,  were 
blown  off^their  station  in  a  gale  of  wind.  On 
tne  28th,  whilst  off  Bastia,  he  gave  a  more  par- 
ticular account  of  the  Siege,  in  a  letter  to  his 
wife.  "  My  dear  Fanny,  I  write  literally  to 
say  I  am  well,  never  better,  and  in  active  service, 
which  I  like.  Lord  Hood  expresses  himself  on 
every  occasion  well  pleased  with  my  conduct. 
He  is  come  on  this  side  himself,  but  would  not 
bring  an  older  Captain  than  me;  therefore  the 
naval  service  at  Bastia  is  intrusted  to  my  direc- 
tion, under  his  Lordship.  I  have  now  six  fri- 
gates with  me.  Our  little  brush  last  Sunday, 
happened  at  the  moment  when  part  of  our  army 
made  their  appearance  on  the  hills  over  Bastia; 
they  having  marched  over-land  from  St.  Fiorenzo, 
which  is  only  twelve  miles  distant.  The  General 
sent  an  express  to  Lord  Hood  at  Fiorenzo 
to  tell  him  of  it.  What  a  noble  sight  it  must 
have  been  !  indeed  on  board  it  was  the  grandest 
thing  I  ever  saw.  If  I  had  carried  with  me  500 
troops,  to  a  certainty  I  should  have  stormed  the 


155 

town,  and  I  believe  it  might  have  been  carried. 
Armies  go  so  slow,  that  seamen  think  they  never 
mean  to  get  forward ;  but  I  dare  say  they  act  on 
a  surer  principle,  although  we  seldom  fail.  You 
cannot  think  how  pleased  Lord  Hood  has  been 
with  my  attack  on  Sunday  last,  or  rather  my  re- 
pelling of  an  attack  which  the  enemy  made  on 
me.  He  is  gone  to  Porto  Ferrajo  for  some  sup- 
plies, but  will  return  in  two  days.  I  am  to  an- 
chor to  have  communication  with  the  Army. 
Bastia  is  a  large  town  and  populous,  having 
10,000  inhabitants,  there  is  a  fine  mole  for  ship- 
ping. If  we  take  Corsica,  of  which  I  have  not 
the  smallest  doubt,  I  hope  we  shall  keep  it/' 

(1794.J  On  the  2dof  March,  Lord  Hood  came 
again  in  sight  of  the  Agamemnon  on  her  station 
off  Bastia,  and  on  the  3d,  made  Captain  Nelson's 
signal  to  go  on  board  the  admiral. — "  He  ac- 
quainted me,"  adds  the  Captain  in  his  journal, 
"  with  the  retreat  of  our  troops  from  the  heights 
and  their  return  to  St.  Fiorenzo.  What  General 
Dundas  could  have  seen  to  make  a  retreat  neces- 
sary, I  cannot  comprehend  :  The  enemy's  force 
is  1000  regulars,  and  1000  or  1500  irregulars. 
I  wish  not  to  be  thought  arrogant,  or  presump- 
tuously sure  of  my  own  judgment;  but  it  is  my 
firm  opinion,  that  the  Agamemnon  with  only 
the  frigates  nowhere,  lying  against  the  town  for 
a  few  hours,  with  500  troops  ready  to  land  when 
we  had  battered  down  the  sea  wall,  would  to  a 
certainty  carry  the  place.  I  presumed  to  pro- 


156 

pose  it  to  Lord  Hood,  and  his  Lordship  agreed 
with  me;  but  added,  that  he  should  go  to  St. 
Fiorenzo  and  hear  what  the  General  had  to  say  ; 
for  it  would  not  be  proper  to  risk  having  our 
ships  crippled,  without  a  cooperation  of  the 
Army,  which  consists  of  1600  regulars  and  180 
artillery  men,  all  in  good  health  and  as  fine 
troops  as  ever  marched." 

On  the  4th,  and  5th  of  March,  Captain  Nel- 
son remained  off  Bastia,  and  received  an  order 
from   Lord   Hood    to   take  the   Romney,    Hon. 
W.  Paget,  under  his  command.     On  the  4th  he 
sent  the  following  continuation  of  what  had  passed 
to  his  wife.     "  My  dear  Fanny :   You  will  he  sur- 
prised to  hear  that  the  English  General,  Dundas, 
has  retired  from  before  Bastia  without  making 
an  attack  :    God  knows  what  it  all  means.    Lord 
Hood  is  gone  to  St.  Fiorenzo  to  the  army  to  get 
them  forward  again.     A  thousand  men  would  to 
a  certainty  take  Bastia;  with  five  hundred   and 
Agamemnon,    I  would  attempt  it.     Lord  Hood 
said  publicly,   That  if  he  thought  it  proper  to 
give  me  three  sail  of  the  line  and  500  men,  he 
was  sure  I  should  take  the  town,  although  pro- 
bably not  the  heights;  but  he  would  not  sacri- 
fice his  seamen  and  ships    in  doing   what  the 
finest  army  of  its  size  that  ever  inarched  could, 
and  wished  to  do.     General  Paoli  has  told  them, 
that  if  they  don't  keep  my  force  low,  I  shall  take 
Bastia  before  they  pitch  their  tents  in  St.  Fio- 
renzo:   however  these  are   only  civil  speeches. 


157 

But  we  now  know  that  I  was  very  near  getting 
possession  on  Sunday  the  23d.  If  I  had  force  to 
go  again  and  cannonade  it,  I  believe  I  should  yet 
get  it.  My  Seamen  are  now  what  British  Seamen 
ought  to  be,  to  you  I  may  say  it,  almost  invinci- 
ble; they  really  mind  shot  no  more  than  peas." 

(1794.)  The  following  extract  from  Lord  Hood's 
letter  to  Lieutenant  General  Dundas,  dated  Vic- 
tory in  Martello  Bay,  March  6*,  illustrates  the  his- 
tory of  the  siege  of  Bastia:  "  I  am  honoured," 
said  his  Lordship,  "  with  your  letter  of  yester- 
day's date;  in  which  you  are  pleased  to  say, 
'  after  mature  consideration  and  a  personal  in- 
spection for  several  days  of  all  circumstances, 
local  as  well  as  others,  I  consider  the  Siege  of 
Bastia,  with  our  present  means  and  force,  to  be 
a  most  visionary  and  rash  attempt,  such  as  no 
officer  could  be  justified  in  undertaking,'- — In 
answer  to  which,  I  must  take  the  liberty  to  ob- 
serve, that  however  visionary  and  rash  an  attempt 
to  reduce  Bastia  may  be  in  your  opinion,  to  me 
it  appears  very  much  the  reverse,  and  to  be  per- 
fectly a  right  measure;  and  I  beg  here  to  repeat 
my  answer  to  you,  upon  your  saying  two  days 
ago,  that  I  should  be  of  a  different  opinion  to 
what  I  had  expressed,  were  the  responsibility 
upon  my  shoulders, — '  That  nothing  would  be 
more  gratifying  to  my  feelings,  than  to  have  the 
whole  responsibility  upon  me — '  and  I  am  notf 
ready  and  willing  to  undertake  the  reduction  of 
tfastia  at  mv  own  risk,  with  the  force  and  means 


158 

at  present  here,  being  strongly  impressed  with 
the  necessity  of  it." 

On  the  9th  of  March  Captain  Nelson  went  on 
shore  to  Erbalonga,  and  thence  to  the  Corsican 
camp,  and  had  a  good  view  of  all  the  enemy's 
posts,  and  the  town,  which  was  daily  increasing 
its  means  of  defence.  On  the  10th  he  got  back 
to  his  ship,  and  on  the  Uth  the  Romney  joined 
him  with  letters  from  Lord  Hood,  to  say  that 
General  Dundas  was  going  home,  and  that  the 
Admiral  hoped  and  trusted  the  troops  would 
once  more  move  over  the  hill.  Captain  Nelson 
returned  the  following  answer.  "  My  Lord, 
You  may  be  assured  I  shall  undertake  nothing, 
but  what  I  have  amoral  certainty  of  succeeding 
is:  had  this  day  been  fine,  it  was  my  intention 
to  have  towed  the  Agamemno^  in  shore,  and  to 
have  destroyed  the  house  which  the  enemy  has 
fortified  for  musquetry,  and  also  the  new  battery 
which  is  nearly  finished — I  think  we  should  have 
been  out  of  the  range  of  shot  from  the  town.  I 
hope  our  troops  will  soon  join." 

Captain  Nelson's  journal  describes  the  hard- 
ships which  his  men  had  already  endured. 
"  March  12th,  off  Erbalonga,  five  miles  from 
Bastia.  We  are  absolutely  without  either  water, 
provisions,  or  stores  of  any  kind,  and  not  a 
piece  of  canvass,  rope,  twine,  or  a  nail  in  our 
ship  ;  but  we  cheerfully  submit  to  it  all,  if  it 
turns  out  for  the  advantage  and  credit  of  our 
country." — The  Agamemnon  got  back  to  her 


159 

station  off  Bastia  on  the  16th  of  March,  and  the 
same  day  her  Captain,  to  use  his  own  words, 
sent  an  express  to  Lord  Hood  to  tell  him,  That 
they  had  nothing  to  eat. — "  Yet,"  added  he, 
"  if  your  Lordship  has  any  wish  for  me  to  re- 
main off  Bastia,  I  can,  by  going  to  Porto  Fer- 
rajo,  get  water  and  stores,  and  twenty-four  hours 
at  Leghorn  will  give  us  provisions.  Our  refit- 
ting which  would  take  some  time,  could  be  put 
off  a  little.  My  wish  is  to  be  present  at  the 
attack  of  Bastia;  and  if  your  Lordship  intends 
me  to  command  the  seamen  who  may  be  landed, 
I  assure  you  I  shall  have  the  greatest  pleasure  in 
performing  that,  or  any  other  service  where  you 
may  think  I  can  do  most  good;  even  if  my  ship 
goes  into  port  to  refit,  I  am  ready  to  remain. 
We  are  certainly  jft  a  bad  plight  at  present,  not 
a  man  has  slept  dry  for  many  months." 

Captain  Nelson  to  Sir  William  Hamilton,  sent  by 
the  Hon.  Captain  W.  Pagct,  dated  off  Bastitt, 
March  27,  1794. 

"  My  dear  Sir,  Lord  Hood  having  determined 
on  attacking  Bastia,  from  the  reports  of  officers 
in  whom  his  Lordship  is  pleased  to  place  confi- 
dence, contrary  to  the  opinion  of  General  d'Au- 
bant  who  has  succeeded  to  the  command  of  the 
army,  he  becomes  in  want  of  many  things  which 
I  am  rather  inclined  to  believe  could  have  been 
supplied  from  the  stores  at  St.  Fiorenzo.  As  to 
the  final  issue  of  taking  Bastia  I  have  no  doubt, 


though  we  have  only  a  small  proportion  of  the 
troops  who  were  at  St.  Fiorenzo,  consisting  of 
those  who  had  been  embarked  to  serve  as  marines: 
the  General  thinking  it  right  not  to  grant  his 
Lordship  a  single  soldier,  and  only  a  few  artillery 
men.  The  General  even  insists  on  the  impro 
priety  of  attacking  Bastia,  and  that  as  to  its  con- 
quest it  is  impossible.  But,  my  dear  Sir,  when 
was  a  place  ever  yet  taken  without  an  attempt? 
We  must  endeavour  to  deserve  success,  it  is  cer- 
tainly not  in  our  power  to  command  it.  Colonel 
Vilettes  of  the  69th  regiment  will  command  the 
troops.  I  shall  certainly  always  be  happy  to  pay 
my  respects  to  you;  but  if  we  are  successful,  I 
shall  feel  a  greater  pleasure  in  taking  you  by 
the  hand  at  Naples,  where  my  ship  has  been 
ordered  to  be  refitted  :  for,  I  own,  I  cannot  bear 
the  thoughts  of  shewing  myself  in  a  foreign  port, 
without  its  being  known  that  the  British  flag  is 
triumphant..  I  am  just  come  from  Lord  Hood 
at  St.  Fiorenzo;  his  zeal  and  activity  for  the 
honour  and  benefit  of  his  King  and  Country  are 
not  abated.  Upwards  of  seventy,  he  possesses 
the  mind  of  forty  years  of  age,  and  has  not  a 
thought  separated  from  honour  and  glory.  May 
all  opposers  of  such  a  Character  have  for  their 
accusers  their  own  minds,  I  am  sure  that  will  be 
sufficient.  When,  before  this,  was  the  time, 
that  2000  British  troops  as  good  as  ever  took  the 
field,  were  not  thought  equal  to  attack  800  French 
troops,  allowing  them  to  be  in  strong  works? 


161 

What  would  the  immortal  Wolfe  have  clone,  who 
heat  the  enemy,  though  he  perished  in  the  at- 
tempt? Our  irregulars  are  surely  as  good  as  the 
enemy's,  and  in  numbers  we  far  exceed  them. 
I  truly  feel  sorrow,  but  I  have  hope  and  confi- 
dence that  all  will  end  well.  I  request  leave  to 
present  my  most  respectful  compliments  to  Lady 
Hamilton,  as  does  also  my  youngster.  I  assure 
you  and  her  Ladyship,  that  I  remember  with 
gratitude  the  kindness  of  you  both  to  a  stranger. 
To  Sir  John  Acton,  being  an  Englishman,  if  he 
remembers  such  an  humble  individual  as  myself, 
and  it  is  not  incompatible  with  your  Excellency's 
situation,  I  beg  to  present  my  respects." 

The  Agamemnon  continued  to  remain  tclose 
off  Bastia  from  the  27th  to  the  31st  of  March, 
the  boats  rowing  guard  off  the  mole  and  town 
every  night.  Captain  Nelson  also  sent  the  gun- 
boats to  cannonade  the  town. — Such  had  been 
his  continued  exertions  and  such  his  unremit- 
ting zeal,  previous  to  the  Siege  of  Bastia.  We 
are  now  to  behold  him  uniting  the  talents  both 
of  a  naval  and  a  military  officer,  and  accom- 
plishing under  the  orders  of  his  noble  Admiral, 
what  had  been  deemed  utterly  visionary  and 
impracticable. 

XIII.  Ong  April  4th,  1794,   at  ten  A.  M.   the 

*  The  following  occurrences  in  the  siege  of  Bastia  are  chiefly 
taken  from  Captain  Nelson's  journal,  in  the  possession  of  the 
Viscountesi  Nelson :  in  this  abridgment  they  are  necessarily  con- 
densed. 

M 


162 

troops,  consisting  of  artillery  and  gunners  66,  of 
the  eleventh  regiment  257,  of  the  twenty-fifth 
123,  of  the  thirtieth  146,  of  the  sixty-ninth  261, 
of  the  marines  2  18,  and  of  chasseurs  112,  total 
1185,  and  250  seamen,  landed  at  the  tower  of 
Miomo,  three  miles  to  the  northward  of  Bastia, 
under  the  command  of  Lieutenant  Colonel  Vi- 
lettes,  and  Captain  Horatio  Nelson,  who  had 
under  him  Captains  Hunt,  Serocold,  and  Lullen. 
At  noon  the  troops  encamped  about  2500  yards 
from  the  citadel  of  Bastia,  near  a  high  rock. 
On  the  9th,  about  eleven  o'clock  at  night,  the 
enemy  opened  a  very  heavy  fire  upon  our  camp, 
from  their  mortars  and  guns.  The  alarm  was 
beat,  and  Captain  Nelson  fully  expected  an  at- 
tack. This  firing  lasted  until  daylight,  and  yet, 
what  was  extraordinary,  not  a  single  man  was 
hurt.  The  tents  were  much  damaged,  but  from 
the  troops  being  under  arms  they  escaped.  Lord 
Hood  sent  in  a  flag  of  truce  on  the  1 1th,  at  seven 
o'clock  in  the  morning,  by  Lieut.  Tapper,  of  the 
Victory.  This  officer  on  his  landing  was  grossly 
abused,  until  the  arrival  of  Lacombe  St.  Michel, 
the  Commissioner  from  the  Convention,  when 
the  mob  became  quiet.  Having  offered  his  let- 
ters to  St.  Michel,  our  officer  was  informed  by 
the  Commissioner,  that  he  could  not  receive 
Lord  Hood's  summons:  I  have  hot  Shot,\\&  ex- 
claimed, for  your  ships,  and  bayonets  for  your 
troops.  When  two  thirds  of  our  troops  are  killed, 
I  \.-ill  then  trust  to  the  generosity  of  the  English. 


163 

"  On  the  Lieutenant's  return  with  this  message," 
adds  Captain  Nelson,  "  Lord  Hood  hoisted  a  red 
flag  at  the  main  top  gallant  mast  head  of  the  Vic- 
tory; when  our  batteries  opened  on  the  town,  ci- 
tadel, and  redoubt  of  Camponella,  English  colours 
having  been  hoisted  on  the  rock  over  my  tent, 
and  every  man  giving  three  cheers.  The  enemy 
returned  a  heavy  fire  during  the  whole  day.  The 
Proselyte  frigate  anchored  off  the  tower  of 
Torga,  about  twelve  hundred  yards  from  the 
town  battery;  and  Captain  Serocold  informed  me 
that  she  took  fire  from  red  hot  shot,  and  that  as 
he  found  the  impossibility  of  getting  the  ship 
oflf  the  shore,  it  being  quite  calm,  he  thought  it 
right  to  set  her  on  fire  in  several  places,  and  she 
burnt  to  the  water's  edge. 

"  April  12th.  A  heavy  fire  was  kept  up  by  us 
during  the  whole  of  last  night,  and  this  day,  ap- 
parently with  good  effect;  the  enemy  preserving 
a  continued  fire  upon  us.  In  the  afternoon  I 
went  with  Colonel  Vilettes,  Lieutenant  Duncan, 
R.  A.  and  Captain  Clarke,  brigade  major,  with  a 
Corsican  guide,  to  examine  a  ridge  about  one 
thousand  yards  nearer  the  town  than  our  present 
position,  and  on  which  the  Corsicans  kept  a 
strong  guard  every  night.  The  enemy's  con- 
tinued fire  of  musquetry  and  grape  was  poured 
on  us  during  the  whole  evening:  unfortunately 
the  last  shot  they  fired  from  Camponella  killed 
the  Corsican  guide  who  was  standing  behind 
Clarke,  and  shot  off  his  right  arm  and  a  part  of 


164 

his  right  side:  Clarke  was  looking  over  my 
shoulder  at  Camponella,  whence  we  were  distant 
about  two  hundred  and  fifty  yards.  The  Torga 
battery  opened  on  the  fist  of  April  at  day-light 
on  the  town  battery  and  Camponella,  and  ap- 
parently with  good  effect.  The  enemy  kept  up 
a  most  heavy  fire  on  us  the  whole  day,  with  shells 
and  shot,  from  the  citadel,  town,  Stafforella, 
Camponella,  a  square  tower,  and  the  two  batteries 
newly  raised  under  StafForella.  Brigadier  Gene- 
ral D'Aubant  came  on  the  heights  from  St.  Fio- 
renzo,  with  all  the  staff  and  field  officers  of  that 
army,  and  a  guard  of  fifty  Corsicans.  The  next 
day,  the  22d  of  April,  the  enemy  were  hard  at 
work  on  the  heights  strengthening  all  their 
posts ;  the  natural  consequence  of  the  parade  of 
reconnoitering  yesterday.  A  constant  firing  is 
kept  up  night  and  day." 

On  the  22d  of  April  he  sent  the  following  letter 
to  Mrs.  Nelson.  "  I  have  great  reason  to  be 
thankful  to  that  Being,  who  has  ever  protected 
me  in  a  most  wonderful  manner,  and  in  none 
more  than  since  my  landing  here.  If  it  be  His 
good  pleasure,  I  shall  in  nothing  more  rejoice 
than  in  being  once  more  with  you,  when  we  will 
talk  over  all  these  stories,  and  laugh  at  them. 
We  are  here  with  a  force  not  equal  to  our  wishes 
or  wants,  and  with  only  half  of  what  is  at  present 
in  this  island.  General  D'Aubant  will  not  attack 
our  enemy  with  2000  as  fine  troops  as  ever 
marched,  whilit  we  are  here  beating  them  from 


165 

post  to  post  with  1000 The  Island,  hov/- 

ever,  is  to  belong  to  England,  reinforcements 
are  expected,  and  our  Generals  will,  I  am  sure, 
be  ordered  to  act.  My  ship  lies  on  the  north 
side  of  the  town,  with  some  frigates,  and  Lord 
Hood  is  on  the  south  side.  It  is  a  very  hard  ser- 
vice for  my  poor  Seamen,  dragging  guns  up 
such  heights  as  are  scarcely  credible.  The  loss 
of  the  enemy,  we  know,  has  been  very  great; 
report  states  it  as  much  as  500  killed  and  wound- 
ed, ours  is  not  more  than  20,  the  Agamemnon 
has  to  number  five  amongst  them  :  they  are  not 
the  men  to  keep  out  of  the  way." 

"  On  the  27th  of  April,"  continues  the  journal, 
"  we  began  the  battery  on  the  ridge  for  two 
eighteen  pound  carronades,  and  one  twelve 
pounder  on  the  spot  Mrhere  Captain  Clarke  was 
wounded;  two  hundred  and  fifty  yards  from  Cam- 
ponella,  nine  hundred  yards  from  the  citadel, 
seven  hundred  yards  from  the  town.  The  labour 
of  getting  up  guns  to  this  battery  was  a  work  of 
the  greatest  difficulty,  and  which  never,  in  my 
opinion,  would  have  been  accomplished  by  any 
other  than  British  Seamen.  On  the  1st  of  May 
the  new  battery  opened.  The  llth  regiment 
and  chasseurs  were  removed  to  the  ridge  for  the 
protection  of  the  battery,  and  the  post  was 
strengthened  M'ith  an  additional  number  of 
Corsicans.  Forty-five  seamen  under  Lieutenant 
Andrews  were  also  appointed  to  fight  the  battery." 


166 

The  following  letter  to  his  wife,  dated  May 
1st  and  4th,  renders  us  still  better  acquainted 
with  the  tenderness  of  Nelson's  private  character. 
"  I  need  not,  I  am  certain,  say,  that  all  my  jay 
is  placed  in  you,  I  have  none  separated  from  you; 
you  are  present  to  my  imagination  be  where  I 
will.  1  am  convinced  you  feel  interested  in  every 
action  of  my  life,  and  my  exultation  in  Victory 
is  twofold,  knowing  that  you  partake  of  it.  Only 
recollect  that  a  brave  man  dies  but  once,  a  cow- 
ard all  his  life  long.  We  cannot  escape  death, 
and  should  it  happen  to  me  in  this  place,  remem- 
ber, It  is  the  will  of  Him,  in  whose  hands  are  the 
issues  of  life  and  death. — As  to  my  health,  it  was 
never  better,  seldom  so  well.  I  have  no  fears 
about  the  final  issue  of  the  expedition — It  will 
be  victory,  Bastia  will  be  ours !  and  if  so,  it  must 
prove  an  event,  to  which  the  history  of  England 
can  hardly  boast  an  equal.  Time  will  shew  the 
enemy's  force:  if  it  be  small,  the  Fiorenzo  Com- 
manders ought  to  be  blamed :  if  it  be  large,  they 
are  highly  culpable,  for  allowing  a  handful  of 
brave  men  to  be  on  service  unsupported.  My 
only  fears  are,  That  these  soldiers  will  advance 
when  Bastia  is  about  to  surrender,  and  deprive 
us  of  part  of  our  Glory.  The  King,  we  trust,  will 
draw  the  line  of  our  deserts.  I  will  tell  you  as 
a  secret,  Bastia  will  be  ours  between  the  20th 
and  24th  of  this  month,  if  succours  do  not  get  in. 
Our  ships  are  moored  across  the  harbour's  mouth, 


167 

i 

and  three  boats  from  each  ship  row  guard  every 
night. — The  town  contains  14,000  inhabitants." 
1754.  "  On  the  3d  of  May,"  adds  the  journal, 
"  we  began  a  battery  for  one  twenty-four  pounder 
and  a  ten  inch  howitzer,  which  was  finished  by 
the  7th  at  night.  The  Enemy  from  the  first  of 
this  month  had  shewn  several  dispositions,  as  if 
they  meant  to  attack  this  post;  but  from  some 
cause  they  never  advanced.  Five  four-pound 
field  pieces  with  good  abbatis  would  in  my 
opinion,  if  the  post  had  been  well  defended,  pre- 
vented their  making  any  impression  on  it.  The 
Seamen  always  slept  on  the  battery  with  their 
pikes  and  cutlasses.  Lord  Hood,  on  the  8th,  sent 
in  another  flag  of  truce  at  eight  o'clock,  which 
was  refused  :  the  mayor  telling  the  officer,  that 
they  would  return  bomb  for  bomb,  and  shot  for  shot. 
Opened  the  twenty-four  pounder  and  howitzer 
with  the  greatest  good  effect;  nor  could  all  the 
efforts  of  the  enemy  knock  down  our  works.  A 
continued  and  increasing  fire  was  kept  up  on  the 
town  and  outworks.  In  the  night  of  the  12th  a 
large  boat  came  out  of  Bastia,  she  was  closely 
pursued  by  our  guard-boats,  and  taken :  in  her 
were  three  deserters,  the  captain  of  la  Fortune"e 
frigate,  twelve  seamen,  eight  Corsicans,  and 
thirty  wounded  soldiers,  going  to  Capraja.  Her 
despatches  were  thrown  overboard;  but  irt  the 
morning  of  the  13th  at  daylight,  Lieutenant 
Suckling  of  the  St.  Croix  schooner  saw  the  / 
packet  floating  on  the  water,  which  he  took  up, 


168 

and  brought  to  me:  probably  in  the  hurry  of 
throwing  them  overboard,  the  weight  that  had 
been  tied  to  them  had  slipped  out  of  the  string; 
they  were  all  letters  from  Gentili,  the  commander 
in  chief  at  Bastia,  saying  how  much  they  had  been 
annoyed  by  our  fire,  which  had  been  opened  on 
them  near  forty  days,  and  that  if  succours  did 
not  arrive  by  the  29th  of  the  month,  they  must 
look  upon  the  town  as  lost  to  the  republic.  These 
letters  were  addressed  to  Salicetti,  Lacombe  St. 
Michel,  who  had  left  Bastia,  and  Santelli.  Lord 
Hood  sent  in  the  boat  with  her  crew  and  with  a 
week's  provisions;  and  we  this  day  got  a  nine 
pounder  on  the  ridge.  On  the  14th  of  May,  the 
enemy  displayed  a  picture  on  Camponella  the 
whole  day;  they  did  not  treat  it  with  insult,  and 
I  think  it  was  intended  for  Lord  Hood.k  Our 
batteries  kept  up  an  incessant  fire.  During  the 
night  of  the  15th,  our  guard-boats  took  a  boat 
from  Capraja  with  gunpowder  on  board,  bound 
to  Bastia,  Galeazzini  the  Mayor's  brother  was  in 
her;  no  despatches  could  be  found.  The  enemy 
were  employed  preparing  Gardiola  for  a  mortar. 
On  the  16th  they  got  up  a  thirteen  inch  mortar, 
which  kept  up  a  constant  fire  throughout  the 
night.  It  blowing  strong  from  the  northward, 
three  boats  attempted  to  get  into  the  town  with 
powder  and  provisions;  two  were  taken,  but  one 
got  in.  From  this  day,  until  the  19th,  the  ene- 

r  By  way  of  compliment  for  having  returned  their  boat  with 
the  wounded  men  and  provisions. 


I 


169 

my  fired  more  than  usually  both  night  and  day. 
We  had  also  often  five  shells  in  the  air  at  once, 
all  going  to  Bastia. 

"  On  the  19th  of  May  some  means  had  been 
taken  to  convey  a  message  to  Lord  Hood,  That 
if  he  would  condescend  to  send  a  boat  with  a 
flag,  a  Negotiation  would  be  entered  into  for  the 
surrender  of  the  town  and  its  dependencies. 
In  consequence,  at  four  o'clock  that  evening, 
May  19th,  a  flag  of  truce  was  hoisted  on  board 
the  Victory,  and  a  boat  went  from  her  to  the 
town,  and  one  from  the  town  to  the  Victory. 
The  enemy  from  Campbnella  met  us  without 
arms,  and,  our  officers  advancing,  they  shook 
hands,,  and  were  good  friends  :  They  said  it  was 
all  over,  and  that  Bastia  was  ours.  So  many  in- 
terests, however,  were  to  be  consulted,  that  it 
was  the  22d  in  the  evening  before  our  troops 
could  take  possession  of  the  out-posts, — At  five 
o'clock  on  the  evening  of  the  19th,  our  troops 
from  St.  Fiorenzo  had  made  their  first  appearance 
on  the  hills;  and  on  the  20th,  General  d'Aubant 
and  the  whole  Fiorenzo  army,  consisting  of  the 
18th,  50th,  and  51st  regiments,  12th  regiment 
of  dragoons,  with  100  artillery,  had  appeared 
on  the  hills  to  take  Bastia." 

On  the  20th,  Captain  Nelson  wrote  to  his 
wife  from  the  camp  as  follows.  "  I  have  the 
pleasure  to  tell  you  that  yesterday  afternoon, 
the  19th,  the  enemy  sent  off  a  flag  of  truce  to 
Lord  Hood.  The  truce  still  continues,  and  I 


•  170 

hope  there  will  be  a  surrender  of  the  town  in 
consequence.  Our  Fiorenzo  army,  hearing  what 
was  going  on  here,  have  marched  to  the  top  of 
the  heights,  which  will  probably  terrify  the 
enemy.  I  always  was  of  opinion,  have  ever  acted 
up  to  it,  and  never  have  had  any  reason  to  re- 
pent it,  that  one  Englishman  was  equal  to  three 
Frenchmen;  had  this  been  an  English  town  I  am 
sure  it  would  not  have  OCLMI  taken  by  them.  They 
have  allowed  us  to  batter  it,  without  once  making 
any  effort  to  drive  us  away.  I  may  say  truly, 
that  this  has  been  a  Naval  Expedition;  our  boats 
prevented  any  thing  from  getting  in  by  sea,  our 
Sailors  hauling  up  great  guns,  and  then  right- 
ing them  on  shore.  We  expect  to  take  1000 
regulars,  1500  national  guards,  and  a  large  party 
of  Corsican  troops,  4000  in  the  whole;  these  will 
lay  down  their  arms  to  1000  soldiers  and  marines 
and  200  seamen.  There  is  some  difficulty  about 
the  terms,  and  hostilities  may  recommence  for 
a  day  or  two  longer — but  they  must  submit. 
Josiah  has  been  with  me  at  the  head  of  the  British 
grenadiers,  taking  possession  of  the  forts  and 
posts.  When  I  reflect  what  we  have  achieved,  I 
am  all  astonishment:  Providence  has  ever  been 
gracious  to  me,  and  has  been  my  protector  from 
the  many  perils  incident  to  my  situation." 

"  On  the  22d  of  May,"  continues  the  journal, 
"  our  troops  at  six  in  the  evening  marched  from 
their  posts,  the  band  playing  God  save  the  King. 
At  seven,  the  French  colours  were  struck  upon 


171 

Camponella,  Stafforella,  Croix  de  Capuchin, 
Monseratto  Rock,  Fort  St.  Mary's,  and  all  the 
other  out-posts,  and  the  British  colours  were 
hoisted  under  three  cheers  from  every  seaman 
and  soldier.  The  French  troops  all  retired  to 
the  town  and  citadel." 

The  following  thanks  were  issued  on  the  2Sd, 
by  Lord  Hood,  and  sent  to  Captain  Nelson: 
"  The  Commander  in  Chief  returns  his  best 
thanks  to  Captain  Nelson,  and  desires  he  Avill 
present  them  to  Captain  Hunt,  Captain  Serocold, 
and  Captain  Bullen,  as  well  as  to  every  Officer 
and  Seaman  employed  in  the  reduction  of  Bastia, 
for  the  indefatigable  zeal  and  exertion  they  have 
so  cheerfully  manifested,  in  the  discharge  of  the 
very  laborious  duties  committed  to  them,  not- 
withstanding the  various  difficulties  and  disad- 
vantages they  have  had  to  struggle  with;  which 
could  not  have  been  surmounted,  but  by  the  un- 
common spirit  and  cordial  unanimity  that  have 
been  so  conspicuously  displayed,  which  must 
give  a  stamp  of  reputation  to  their  characters  not 
to  be  effaced,  and  will  be  remembered  with  gra- 
titude by  the  Commander  in  Chief  to  the  end  of 
his  life." 

The  remaining  events,  after  the  capitulation 
of  Bastia,  are  thus  related  by  Captain  Nelson  in 
his  journal.  "  May  23d.  This  morning  the 
Ih'itish  grenadiers  took  possession  of  the  town 
gates,  and  the  gate  of  the  citadel;  and  on  the 
24th  at  day-light,  the  most  glorious  sight  that 


172 

an  Englishman  can  experience,  and  which,  I 
believe,  none  but  an  Englishman  could  bring 
about,  was  exhibited — Four  thousand  fivehundred 
men  laying  down  their  arms  to  less  than  one 
thousand  British  soldiers,  who  were  serving  as  ma- 
rines! Our  loss  of  men  in  taking  Bastia,  contain- 
ing upwards  of  14,000  inhabitants,  and  which,  if 
fully  occupied,  would  contain  25,000,  was  smaller 
than  could  be  expected:  Seamen  killed  and  who 
died  of  their  wounds,  12,  wounded  14.  Soldiers 
killed,  and  who  died  of  their  wounds,  7,  wounded 
23.  Total  killed  19,  wounded  37.  Officers 
wounded,  Captain  Rudsdale  of  the  1 1th  regiment, 
Captain  Clarke  of  the  69th,  and  Lieutenant 
Andrews  of  the  Agamemnon.  By  the  most  ac- 
curate account  we  can  get  of  the  enemy's  killed 
and  wounded,  they  had,  killed  203,  wounded 
540,  most  of  whom  are  dead.  We  consumed 
1058  barrels  of  powder,  and  fired  1 1,923  shot, 
and  7373  shells." 

His  joy  at  this  event  was  accompanied  by  a 
desire  to  serve  a  brave  soldier.  "  My  dear 
Lord,  With  the  most  heartfelt  satisfaction  do  1 
congratulate  you  on  the  great  event  of  this  day, 
accomplished  by  that  solid  judgment,  which  no 
fears  of  others  could  warp  from  that  duty 
and  love  of  our  Country  which  has  ever  shone 
io  conspicuous.  My  heart  is  too  full  to  say  all 
I  think;  but  I  must  not  forget  my  friend  Captain 
Duncan,  who  having  attained  that  rank,  as  I  un- 
derstand, for  his  services  at  Toulon,  will,  I  trust, 


173 

have  another  step  through  your  Lordship's  in- 
terest: the  rank  of  Major,  is,  as  I  am  informed, 
not  unfrequently  given.  I  need  say  no  more.'* 
In  a  letter  to  Mrs.  Nelson,  he  declared  that  Lord 
Hood's  thanks  to  him,  hoth  public  and  private, 
were  the  handsomest  that  man  could  give. 

XIV.  Lord  Hood,  on  the  return  of  one  of  the 
cartel  ships  that  carried  the  garrison  of  Bastia  to 
Toulon,  during  the  evening  of  the  6th  of  June 
received  information,  that  the  French  were  pre- 
paring to  sail  from  that  port.  He  immediately 
made  the  signal  to  unmoor,  and  sent  an  officer 
to  Vice  Admiral  Cosby  at  St.  Fiorenzo,  to  join 
him  on  his  appearing  off  Martello  Point.  At  six 
the  next  morning,  after  the  Victory  had  been 
some  hours  under  sail,  Lord  Amelius  Beauclerk, 
Captain  of  the  Juno,  came  on  board  with  a  letter 
from  Vice-Admiral  Hotham,  who  was  off  Toulon, 
giving  information  that  the  French  fleet  was 
out.  On  the  night  of  the  8th,  Lord  Hood  was 
joined  by  Admirals  Hotham  and  Cosby,  and  made 
sail  with  the  squadron  towards  the  islands  of 
Hieres,  sending  a  frigate  on  each  bow  to  look  out 
for  the  enemy.  On  the  10th  of  June,  the  French 
fleet  was  discovered  close  under  the  land  near 
St.  Tropez,  by  the  frigates  ahead.  Lord  Hood 
with  his  squadron  endeavoured  to  get  between 
the  enemy's  ships  and  the  land,  which  a  failure 
of  wind  prevented;  and  he  was  afterwards  morti- 
fied to  find,  that  by  the  help  of  a  number  of  boats 
from  Antibes,  and  other  places,  their  ships  had 


174 

been  all  towed  within  the  shoals  in  the  road  of 
Gourjean,  where  they  were  protected  by  the  bat- 
teries on  the  islands  of  St.  Honora  and  St.  Mar- 
guerite, and  on  Cape  Garousse. 

The  following-  letter  to  his  wife,  when  he 
sailed  with  Lord  Hood  in  quest  of  this  French 
fleet,  serves  to  shew  the  unabated  zeal  of  Nelson 
in  the  service  of  his  Country,  notwithstanding 
the  toils  of  a  long  Siege  heightened  by  an  addi- 
tional impulse  from  the  idea  of  his  then  first 
having  an  opportunity  of  distinguishing  himself 
in  a  line  of  battle.  " .  . .  I  pray  God  we  may  meet 
this  fleet.  If  any  accident  should  happen  .to  me, 
I  am  sure  my  conduct  will  be  such  as  will  entitle 
you  to  the  royal  favour :  not  that  I  have  the  least 
idea  but  I  shall  return  to  you,  and  full  of  ho- 
nour; if  not,  the  Lord's  will  be  done.  My  name 
shall  never  be  a  disgrace  to  those  who  may  be- 
long to  me.  The  little  I  have,  you  know  I  have 
given  to  you,  except  a  small  annuity.  I  wish  it 
\vas  more;  but  I  have  never  got  a  farthing  dis- 
honestly, it  descends  from  clean  hands.  What- 
ever fate  awaits  me,  I  pray  God  to  bless  you, 
and  preserve  you  for  your  son's  sake.  I  think 
always  in  the  most  affectionate  manner  of  my 
Father;  tell  him  so,  and  ever  believe  me  your 
most  affectionate  husband.  ' 

Such  were  the  ideas  of  Nelson,  when  on  the 
eve,  as  he  thought,  of  his  first  general  action 
with  the  French  fleet :  his  ardent  spirit  always 
entered  into  the  Battle  with  a  full  conviction  of 


lib 

its  dangers,  but  without  indulging  any  of  that 
superstitious  foreboding  which  has  shaken  the 
resolution  of  the  bravest  seamen.  His  zeal  and 
enterprise  were  now  called  to  a  new  proof  at  the 
Siegeof  Calvi. 

XV.  During  the  afternoon  of  the  10th  of  June, 
1794,  the  Agamemnon  parted  from  Lord  Hood, 
and  steered  for  Cape  Corse.  On  the  12th,  at 
eight  o'clock,  Captain  Nelson  anchored  off  the 
town  of  Bastia,  and  went  on  shore  to  the  Hon. 
Lieutenant  General  Stuart,  when  it  ,was  settled 
that  all  the  troops  for  the  expedition  against  Calvi 
should  be  embarked  the  next  morning  at  six 
o'clock:— The  following  is  Captain  Nelson's 
Journal  of  this  Siege,  with  the  addition  of  some 
letters  that  were  written  by  him  whilst  on  that 
service. 

"  Having  ordered  every  transport  and  victu- 
aller, except  the  ships  in  the  mole,  to  be  ready 
to  sail  with  me,  and  a  ship  laden  with  empty 
casks,  on  the  13th  of  June  by  eight  o'clock, 
every  soldier  was  embarked,  amounting  to  14-50 
men,  exclusive  of  officers.  At  noon  made  the 
signal  to  unmoor,  and  at  four  the  signal  to  weigh. 
Sailed  in  company  with  his  Majesty's  ships  Dol- 
phin, Gorgon,  and  twenty-two  sail  of  vessels. 
June  the  18th  in  the  morning,  at  half-past  three 
o'clock,  I  went  on  shore  with  General  Stuart;  to 
examine  the  coast,  in  hopes  of  finding  a  better 
landing-place;  but  we  both  agreed  it  could  only 
be  at  the  inlet  called  Porto  Agro,  though  by  no 


176 

means  a  convenient  place  for  landing  guns  or 
stores,  as  sunken  rocks  lie  twenty  feet  from  the 
shore,  with  deep  water  between  them;  and  with 
a  common  sea  breeze  such  a  swell  sets  in  as  to 
prevent  boats  from  landing.  This  inlet  is  three 
miles  and  a  half  from  the  town  of  Calvi. 

"  Examined  the  enemy's  outposts,  and  found 
them  as  follows :  Monachesco,  about  2200  yards 
from  the  town,  on  the  S.  W.  side  of  it.  The 
Mozello  fort,  west  from  the  town  about  9QO 
yards ;  and  the  Fountain  battery  in  a  shoulder 
of  the  hill,  between  Mozello  and  San  Francesco; 
which  last  stands  on  a  rock  on  the  north  side  of 
the  peninsula,  and  is  washed  by  the  sea.  The 
town  itself  is  apparently  well  fortified,  but  with- 
out any  ditch." 

"  The  troops  were  disembarked  at  seven 
o'clock  on  the  morning  of  the  l^th,  under  the 
direction  of  Captain  E.  Cooke,  R.N.  with  six  f^ld 
pieces,  which  the  seamen  dragged  up -the  hills. 
I  landed,"  says  Captain  Nelson,  "  in  the  after- 
noon with  250  seamen,  and  encamped  on  the 
beach,  getting  on  shore  baggage  for  the  army. 
By  the  General's  desire  I  sent  the  Fox  cutter, 
with  directions  for  180  of  the  Royal  Louis,  the 
18th  regiment,  and  100  of  the  6o,th  regiment,  to 
join  as  soon  as  possible.  During  the  whole  of 
the  20th  and  21st  it  blew  so  strong,  with  a  heavy 
sea  and  rain,  and  with  such  thunder  and  light- 
ning, as  precluded  all  intercourse  with  the  ship- 
ping, most  of  which  put  to  sea.  The  Seamen 


177 

were  employed  in  making  roads  for  their  guns, 
and  in  getting  up  three  twenty-six  pounders  to 
the  Madona,  about  two  miles  and  a  half  from  the 
landing  place,  reachr  to  act  against  Monachesco  ; 
the  road  for  the  first  three  quarters  of  a  mile  led 
up  a  steep  mountain,  and  the  other  part  was  not 
very  easy.  The  weather  became  rather  mode- 
rate in  the  night,  but  still  witti  thunder,  light- 
ning, and  rain." 

This  tempestuous  weather  rather  abated  on 
the  22d,  when  Captain  Nelson,  though  a  great 
deal  of  surf  was  running,  got  off  boats  to  such 
of  the  ships  as  remained,  and  employed  his 
men  in  landing  provisions  which  were  much 
wanted,  as  also  powder,  shot,  and  gun-carriages. 
During  this  day  a  deserter  came  in  from  Calvi, 
and  the  Fox  returned  with  180  of  the  'Royal 
Louis.  One  twenty-six  pounder  was  dragged  up 
the  hill,  and  during  the  night  they  hauled  two 
twenty-six  pounders  from  the  Madona  to  the 
place  intended  for  the  battery  against  Mona- 
chesco, distant  850  yards;  a  working  party  of 
soldiers  were  at  the  same  time  filling  sand-bags. 

On  the  23d  the  sea  became  more  calm,  when 
two  twenty-six  pounders,  and  a  great  quantity  of 
provisions,  shot,  shells,  and  stores,  were  landed; 
at  night  the  Seamen  got  up  another  twenty-six 
pounder  from  the  Madona,  to  the  battery  against 
Monaciiesco,  and  mounted  the  three  guns;  and 
the  same  evening  the  Agamemnon  and  trans- 

N 


178 

ports,  which  had  put  to  sea  on  the  20th  and  21st, 
returned  to  their  anchorage. 

On  the  27th,   he  wrote  to  Mrs.  Nelson,  dated 
Camp,    near  Calvi.      "  My  dear  Fanny,    I  sent 
you  a  few  lines  just  as  we  landed,   since  which 
nothing  particular  has  occurred.    Dragging  can- 
non up  steep  mountains,   and  carrying  shot  and 
shells,  has  been  ourconstant  employments.  Josiah 
is  very  well,  and  I  have  no  fears  but  he  will  be  a 
good  man.     He  is  affectionate,  though  warm  in 
his  disposition,   which  nothing  can  cool  so  tho- 
roughly as  being  at  sea,    where  nobody  has  en- 
tirely their  own  way.     Corsica,    in   respect   to 
prizes,  produces  nothing  but  Honour,  far  above 
the  consideration  of  Wealth  :  not  that  I  despise 
riches,  quite  the  contrary,  yet  I  would  not  sacri- 
fice a  good  name  to  obtain  them.     The  French 
here  do  not  know  what  to  make  of  us.     They 
hear  we  are  landed,   yet  have  not  seen  us,  nor 
have  they  any  idea  about  our  batteries,   which 
when  they  open  will  be  heavy  on  them.     That 
we  shall  take  Calvi  in  due  time  I  have  no  man- 
ner of  doubt.     You  know  probably  that  George 
the  Third  is  King  of  Corsica,  chosen  by  the  una- 
nimous  consent  of  the  people   themselves,  the 
best  of  all  titles;  they  are  now  our  fellow  subjects. 
The  first  resolution  of  the  parliament  of  Corsica 
was    to   declare   they    were    Englishmen;    they 
might  have  been  mistaken  for  Irishmen  by  their 
bull.     You  will  hear  that  Lord  Hood  fell  in  with 
the  French  fleet  on  the  10th,  but  they  were  too 


near  the  shore  for  him  to  prevent  their  getting 
into  port.  His  Lordship  wished  to  attack  them; 
a  council  of  flag  officers  prevented  him.  You 
may  be  assured  he  will  either  take  or  destroy 
them,  but  I  trust  not  before  Calvi  is  ours,  when 
I  shall  immediately  join  the  fleet." 

On  the  30th  Captain  Nelson  informed  Lord 
Hood,  that  the  General  had  agreed  in  the  neces- 
sity of  landing  two  twelve-pounders  on  the  point 
near  Cape  Revalate,  where  a  battery  was  con- 
structed, and  a  midshipman  with  twelve  men 
had  been  stationed  there;  but  that  the  General 
could  not  afford  men  to  encamp  there  for  its  de- 
fence. The  battery  against  Monachesco  was  to 
be  opened  on  the  2d  of  July,  as  it  had  been  found 
that  they  could  not  carry  on  their  battery  against 
the  Mozello,  until  that  post  was  damaged;  the 
distance  from  this  battery  to  the  landing-place 
was  three  miles. — To  this  letter  Lord  Hood  re- 
turned the  following  answer.  "  My  dear  Nelson, 
I  am  free  to  own  I  have  no  apprehension  of  any 
second  division  of  ships  from  Toulon;  but  am 
aware  there  is  a  fixed  determination  in  the 
Convention,  that  if  Lord  Howe  does  not  get 
hold  of  the  French  fleet  from  Brest,  a  consider- 
able part  of  it  is,  I  am  persuaded,  to  come  into 
these  seas ;  a  contingency  which  it  is  very  ne- 
cessary for  me  to  be  somewhat  guarded  against, 
and  which  occasions  my  letter  to  General  Stuart, 
of  which  I  send  you  a  copy.  I  endeavour  to 
keep  the  old  adage  in  remembrance,  That  pre- 


180 


vention  is  better  than  cure.  I  will  manage  to 
have  men  to  fight  the  guns  upon  Cape  Revalate, 
if  you  wish  it,  and  in  addition  suppose  I  send 
the  Royal  Louis  to  encamp  there?  Ever  faith- 
fully yours." 

On  the  1st  of  July,  according  to  Lord  Hood's 
desire,  Captain  Nelson  went  again  on  board  the 
Victory,  and  having-  landed  inside  Cape  Reva- 
late, was  all  night  employed  in  moving  the  guns, 
mortars,  and  howitzers,  to  within  450  yards  of 
the  intended  battery.  On  the  2d  he  made  two 
trips  £0  the  landing-place  for  stores,  at  night  got 
two  mortars  to  their  battery,  and  was  engaged 
in  carrying  platforms,  Sec.  till  two  in  the  morn- 
rhg  In  his  letter  on  that  day  to  Lord  Hood,  he 
said,  "  Through  the  ignorance  and  laziness  of 
people  in  the  different  departments,  the  General 
is  kept  back  much  longer  than  he  wished  :  our 
advanced  battery,  I  am  sure,  will  not  be  made 
this  night,  much  to  his  displeasure:  all  our  guns 
are  within  300  yards  of  the  intended  works 
against  the  Mozello." 

The  journal  then  proceeds.  July  5th.  "  Carry  ing 
junk  for  mortar  platforms,  and  placing  the  mor- 
tars on  their  beds,  getting  also  things  forward  for 
the  advanced  battery,  100  seamen  were  employed 
all  night.  Lieutenant  Moutray  made  a  battery 
for  two  eighteen  pounders  inside  Revalate,  with 
25  men.  July  6th.  Procuring  some  planks,  and 
preparing  every  thing  to  be  ready  to  work  briskly 
in  the  evening:  at  half-past  nine  o'clock  a  feint 


181 

of  an  attack  was  carried  on  against  Monachesco, 
which  succeeded  amazingly  well.     Not  a  shot 
was  fired  at  us  ;  for  the  enemy  turned  their  whole 
fire,   during  the  night,   towards  the  post  which 
they  imagined  was  attacked.     By  excessive  la- 
bour, and  the  greatest  silence  in  every   depart- 
ment,  the  battery   was  completed  for  six  guns, 
within  750   yards   of  the  Mozello  and  without 
the  smallest  annoyance,  before  day-light  on  the 
7th,  and  the  guns  brought  close  to  it;  but  from 
unavoidable  circumstances,  the  guns  could  not 
be   mounted  on  the  platforms  until  -two  hours 
afterwards.     The  enemy  did  not  fire  at  us  until 
the  fifth  gun  was  getting  into  the  battery,  pro- 
bably never  thinking  of  looking  so  near  them- 
selves for  a  battery,  when  they  opened  a  heavy 
fire  of  grape  shot  on  us:  but  the  Seamen  did  their 
duty.     Considering  our  very  exposed  situation, 
our  loss  was  small  in  numbers ;   yet  among  those 
who  fell  was   Captain   Walter  Serocold"  of  the 
navy,  who  was  killed  by  a  grape-shot  passing 
through  his  head  as  he  cheered  the  people  who 
were  dragging  the  gun.     In  him  the  service  lost 
a  gallant  officer,  and  a  most  able  seaman.    Three 
soldiers  were  also  killed,  one  of  the  Agamemnon's 
seamen,  and  Mr.  Thomas  Corney,   mate  of  the 
Grand  Bay  transport,  who  was  one  of  the  volun- 
teers.    A  little  before  six  o'clock  we  got  two 
English  twenty-four  pounders,  and  four  twenty- 

11  A  sister  of  this  excellent  officer  married  Dr.  Pearce,  Dean  of 
Ely,  and  Master  of  Jesus  College,  Cambridge. 


182 

six  pounders  mounted  on  their  platforms,  in  de- 
fiance of  all  opposition.  At  ten  o'clock  opened 
our  fire  from  this  battery  on  the  Mozello  and  • 
Fountain  battery;  not  a  gun  from  the  town  can 
bear  upon  us,  being  so  much  covered  by  the 
Mozello.  We  also  opened  our  Hill  battery  of 
two  twenty-six  pounders  and  a  twelve-inch  mor- 
tar, 1500  yards  from  the  Mozello,  with  the  Royal 
Louis  battery  of  three  thirty-six  pounders  and 
two  twelve  inch  morfars  in  the  rear,  and  to  the 
left  of  our  advanced  battery;  all  which  kept  up 
during  the  whole  day  a  constant  and  heavy  fire 
on  the  enemy.  At  three  o'clock  in  the  after- 
noon the  enemy  set  fire  to  the  fascines  in  Mona- 
chesco,  and  abandoned  that  post,  which  the  Cor- 
sicans  took  possession  of." 

The  enemy  repaired  much  of  the  fascine  bat- 
tery during  the  succeeding  night,  and  through- 
out the  whole  of  the  8th,  both  sides  had  kept  up 
a  constant  and  heavy  fire.  They  totally  destroyed 
two  of  our  twenty-four  pounders,  greatly  damaged 
a  twenty-six  pounder,  and  shook  our  M'orks  very 
much.  "  One  of  their  shells,"  adds  Captain 
Nelson  in  his  journal,  "  burst  in  the  centre  of 
our  battery,  amongst  the  General,  myself,  and 
at  least  100  persons,  and  blew  up  our  battery 
magazine;  but,  wonderful  to  say,  not  a  man  was 
much  hurt. 
Captain  Nelson  to  Admiral  Lord  Hood,  dated  Camp, 

July  10,  1794. 

"  My  dear  Lord,   I  enclose  my  journal  up  to 
this  morning;  it  contains  nothing  but  the  truth, 


133 

and  was  intended  by  me  as  only  a  friendly,  not 
an  official  communication  to  your  Lordship:  and 
I  have  to  request,  that  you  will  alter  whatever 
part  you  please,  which  may  relate  to  the  miscon- 
duct of -any  officer;  for  we  must  recollect,  the 
truth  is  not  to  be  spoken  at  all  times:  but  with 
your  Lordship  I  have  no  reserve.  1  think  it 
possible,  that  the  Mozello  may  be  breached  by 
to-morrow  night,  and  am  certain  it  will  be  so  in 
one  day  after  the  thirty-six  pounders  are  placed 
against  it,  as  they  are  to  be  200  yards  nearer. 
Two  seamen  are  dead  of  their  wounds." 

The  next  day,  July  12,  17Q4,  Captain  Nelson 
mentioned  the  wound  which  he  had  received  to 
the  Admiral.  "  My  dear  Lord,  Reports  we  know 
get  about,  and  as  neither  time  nor  many  other 
circumstances  may  be  mentioned,  it  is  best  to  say 
it  myself,  that  I  got  a  little  hurt  this  morning; 
not  much,  as  your  Lordship  may  judge  by  my 
writing." — What  this  zealous  officer  so  modestly 
termed  a  little  hurt,  proved  eventually  to  be  the 
loss  of  his  right  eye.  — "  Atday-light  on  the  12th 
of  July,"  as  he  informs  us  in  his  Journal,  "  the 
Enemy  opened  a  heavy  fire  from  the  town,  and 
San  Francesco;  which,  in  an  extraordinary  man- 
ner, seldom  missed  our  battery ;  and  at  seven 
o'clock  I  was  much  bruised  in  the  face  and  eyes 
by  sand  from  the  works,  struck  by  shot.  The 
Mozello  was  by  this  time  much  breached.  At 
night  replaced  the  guns  destroyed,  and  fired  a 


184 

gun  and  mortar  every  three  minutes;  at  half  past 
twelve  the  town  was  on  fire,  and  burnt  for  three 
hours.  We  had  two  seamen  and  three  soldiers 
wound ed."— Both  Captain  Nelson  and  his  friends, 
for  some  time  deceived  themselves  with  a  hope 
that  his  eye  would  be  restored,  when  the  swelling 
had  subsided;  and  in  writing  the  next  day  to 
Lord  Hood,  he  said,  "  My  eye  is  better,  and  I 
hope  not  entirely  to  lose  the  sight.  1  shall  be  able 
to  attend  my  duty  this  evening,  if  a  new  battery 
is  to  be  made." 

The  Enemy  still  continued,  for  many  days 
afterwards,  to  carry  on  the  defence  of  Calvi  with 
considerable  spirit  and  resolution,  until  they  had 
nearly  exhausted  the  strength  and  resources-  of 
their  brave  opponents.  During  the  whole  of  the 
1 3th  of  July,  a  coustant  fire  was  kept  up  from  the 
town,  which  struck  our  battery  very  often,  and 
dismounted  another  twenty-six  pounder. — "This 
is  the  fifth  gun,"  adds  Captain  Nelson,  "which 
has  been  disabled  since  the  7th,  when  our  battery 
opened,  and  having  only  six  guns  in  it,  is  quite 
wonderful.  At  night  we  landed  four  eighteen 
pounders,  with  a  quantity  of  shot  and  shells  in 
PortVaccaja,  and  were  employed  in  getting  them 
up  to  the  rear  of  our  work;  and  here  I  must  ac- 
knowledge the  indefatigable  zeal,  activity,  and 
ability  of  Captain  B.  Hallowell,  and  the  great 
readiness  which  he  ever  shews  to  give  me  assist- 
ance in  the  laborious  duties  that  are  intrusted  to 
us:  by  computation,  to  this  night,  we  may  be 


185 

supposed  to  have  dragged  one  twenty-six 
pounder,  with  its  ammunition  and  every  requisite 
.  for  making  a  battery,  upwards  of  eighty  miles, 
seventeen  of  which  were  up  a  very  steep  moun- 
tain." 

In  a  letter  which  he  sent  to  Mrs.  Nelson  on 
the  14th  of  July,  he  said,  "A  fortnight  will,  I 
have  no  doubt,  give  us  Calvi;  but  our  efforts 
here  are  at  such  a  distance,  and  so  eclipsed  by 
Lord  Howe's  great  success  at  home,  that  I  dare 
say  we  are  not  thought  of:  however,  we  must 
exert  ourselves."  On  July  17,  1794,  he  sent 
the,  following  account  from  the  camp  to  Sir 
Gilbert  Elliot,  (Lord  Minto)  the  Viceroj. 
"  You  may  possibly,  my  dear  Sir,  hear  both  from 
Lord  Hood  and  General  Stuart  of  our  operations; 
therefore  I  shall  say  little  more  of  them,  than 
that  success,  I  have  no  doubt,  will  attend  the 
.General,  and  no  officer  ever  deserved  it  more. 
The  place  is  strong,  and  the  access  to  it  is  diffi- 
cult; but  the  principal  obstacles  are,  I  hope, 
overcome.  The  Mozello  will  be  stormed  this 
night,  two  breaches  are  made  in  it.  The  great 
fatigue  General  Stuart  has  undergone  since  our 
landing,  has  rather  injured  his  health;  yet 
nothing  stops  him  from  seeing  every  thing  done 
himself.  Our  loss  has  been  trifling,  not  20  killed 
and  wounded;  amongst  the  former  is  Captain 
Serocold,  and  amongst  the  latter,  in  a  slight 
manner,  myself;  my  head  being  a  good  deal 
wounded,  and  my  right  eye  cut  down:  but  the 


186 

surgeon  flatters  me  I  shall  not  entirely  lose  the 
sight,  which  I  believe,  for  I  can  clearly  distin- 
guish light  from  darkness.  It  confined  me,  thank 
God,  only  one  day,  and  that  at  a  time  when 
nothing  particular  happened  to  be  going  on." 

General  Stuart,  on  the  l6th,  had  communicated 
his  plan  to  Captain  Nelson  for  storming  the  Mo- 
zello  on  the  ensuing  night;  but  the  enemy  by 
their  mode  of  firing  during  that  day.  in  trying 
the  range  of  the  different  grounds  which  the 
besiegers  had  to  pass,  seemed  to  have  been  aware 
of  their  intentions :  The  storming  of  the  Mozello, 
therefore,  did  not  take  place  at  the  time  intended. 
On  the  18th  every  person  was  busily  employed 
in  getting  ready. 

( 1 794  )  "  On  the  19th  of  July,  at  three  o'clock  in 
the  morning,  a  smart  fire  of  musquetry  was  opened 
on  the  18th  regiment,  -who  inarched  into  the 
Fountain  battery  without  firing  a  shot,  although 
the  Mozello  fired  grape  upon  them.  The  enemy 
abandoned  the  work  and  trench  behind  it,  and 
fled  into  the  town.  Colonel  Wemyss  performed 
his  duty  like  an  able  officer.  The  two  field  pieces 
under  Lieutenant  Harrison,  with  the  grenadiers 
under  Colonel  Moore,  now  began  to  fire  into  the 
breach  of  the  Mozello,  and  our  new  three  gun 
battery  opened  at  the  same  time.  The  Royal  Irish 
giving  a  huzza,  the  pioneers  rushed  forward 
and  cut  down  the  palisados,  and  the  troops  under 
Colonel  Moore,  after  returning  the  huzza,  were 
in  the  breach.  The  enemy  were  panic  struck, 


187 

and  fled  with  such  rapidity,  that  before  Major 
Brereton  with  the  light  infantry  could  get  be- 
tween the  Mozello  and  the  town,  they  had  all,  ex- 
cepting four  or  five,  escaped.  Captain  M  'Donald 
of  the  Royals  led  up  one  breach,  and  Lieutenant 
M'Donald  the  other,  both  were  slightly  wounded. 
Thus  fell  the  Mozello,  M'ith  the  loss  of  only  four 
men  killed  and  seven  wounded.  "I  think,"  adds 
Captain  Nelson  in  his  letter  on  the  19th  to  Lord 
Hood,  "  that  General  Stuart  must  be  pleased 
with  our  services.  I  could  have  wished  to  have 
had  a  little  part  in  the  Storm,  if  it  had  been  only 
to  have  placed  the  ladders,  and  to  have  pulled 
away  the  palisados  ;  however,  we  did  the  part  al- 
lotted for  us." 

On  the  same  day,  Lord  Hood  informed  Cap- 
tain Nelson,  that  50  Seamen  would  be  sent  him 
from  each  of  the  four  frigates,  commanded, 
under  his  directions,  by  Captain  Seccombe,  and 
that  100  would  be  added  from  the  Victory." — In 
a  letter  on  the  22d  of  July,  to  Lord  Hood,  Nel- 
son, with  his  wonted  enthusiasm,  exclaimed,  "We 
will  fag  ourselves  to  death,  before  any  blame 
shall  lie  at  our  doors;  and  I  trust,  my  dear  Lord, 
it  will  not  be  forgotten,  that  twenty-five  pieces 
of  heavy  ordnance  have  been  dragged  to  the  dif- 
ferent batteries  and  mounted,  and  all,  but  the 
three  at  the  Royal  Louis  battery,  have  been 
fought  by  Seamen,  except  one  artillery  man  to 
point  the  guns,  and,  at  first,  an  additional  gun- 
ner to  stop  the  rest;  but,  as  I  did  not  choose  to 


188 

trust  a  Seamen's  anus  to  any  but  Seamen,  he  was 
withdrawn;  all  the  mortars  have  also  been  worked 
by  Seamen,    every  man  landed  is  actually  half 
barefooted."    I  am  far  from  well;  but  not  so  ill 
as  to  be  confined.    My  eye  is  troublesome,  and  I 
don't  think  I  shall  ever  have  the  perfect  sight  of 
it  again.     In  one  week  at  farthest,  after  our  bat- 
teries are  open,  I  think  Calvi  will  be  ours." — On 
the  31st  of  July  he  thus  continued  his  corre- 
spondence with  the  Admiral,   from  one  of  the 
batteries.      "  My  dear  Lord,    I  own  I  rejoiced 
when  our7  fire  opened  against  the  enemy,  being 
thoroughly  convinced,  that  all  we  have  to  guard 
against  is  unnecessary  delay;  the  climate  is  the 
only  enemy  we  have  to  fear,   that  we  can  never 
conquer.     Far  be  it  from  me  to  cast  a  reflection 
on  the  General's  humanity,    I  admire  It;    but 
there  are  times,  and  I  think  the  present  is  one  of 
them,  when  it  would  be  more  charitable  to  our 
troops  to  make  the  Enemy  suffer,   than  for  our 
brave  fellows  to  die  incessantly,  four  or  five  of  a 
day.     Why  might  not  the  General  send  notice, 
that  they  must  remove  all  their  sick  from  the 
lower  town  to  the  upper  one,  for  that  it  may  be 
a  necessary  measure  to  destroy  it?  In  that  case 
they  would  be  so   crowded,   that  a  few  hours 
would  make  them   submit  to   any   terms.     The 
General  is  very  unwell;  and  not  being  able  to  re- 
main here  last  night,  I  have  not  heard  of  him  this 
morning.     This  is  my  ague  day,    and  I  hope  so 
active  a  scene  will  keep  off  the  fit:  it  has  shaken 


189 

me  a  good  deal;  but  I  have  been  used  to  them, 
and  now  don't  mind  them  much." — In  a  letter  to 
Mrs.  Nelson,  dated  August  the  4th,  he  said.  This 
flay  I  have  been  four  months  landed,  except  a  few 
days  when  we  were  after  the  French  Fleet,  and  I 
feel  almost  qualified  to  pass  my  examination  as  a 
besieging  General." 

The  following  letter  to  his  Royal  Highness  the 
Duke  of  Clarence,  dated  from  the  camp  before 
Calvi,  August  6th  and  iOth,  1794,  retraces  the 
history  of  this  Siege  to  that  date.  "Sir,  The 

A 

gazette  will  tell  your  Royal  Highness  the  general 
outlines  of  this  Siege,  which  1  believe  is  novel  in  its 
form.  We  landed  about  four  miles  to  the  westward 
of  Calvi  on  the  19th  of  June;  on  the  19th  of  July 
•we  were  in  full  possession  of  every  outpost  of  the 
Enemy,  with  very  trifling  loss.  Our  batteries 
were  erected  with  impunity,  in  situations  which 
the  Enemy  ought  to  have  prevented:  had  they 
kept  even  a  moderate  look-out,  our  loss  of  men 
must  have  been  great,  every  battery  being  within, 
reach  of  grape-shot  from  its  opponent.  On  the 
19th  of  July,  General  Stuart  sent  in  to  ask,  if 
they  had  any  terms  to  propose  to  him?  their 
answer  was  the  motto  of  the  town, — Cimtas  Cal- 
ais semper  fidelis.  We  were  then  only  650  yards 
from  the  centre  of  the  citadel,  and  they  allowed 
us  to  erect  very  strong  batteries  under  a  mask: 
they  must,  and  ought  to  have  known  what  we 
were  after,  without  firing  a  single  shot  or  shelL 


190 

On  the  28th  in  the  morning  our  batteries, 
yards  from  the  Citadel  wall,  were  ready  to  open 
their  force,  consisting  of  twenty-one  cannon, 
five  mortars,  and  four  howitzers.  The  General 
sent  in  to  say,  that  he  should  not  lire  on  the  hlack 
flags  (hospitals).  This  note  produced  a  nego- 
tiation, by  which  the  enemy  wanted  to  obtain  a 
truce  for  twenty-five  days;  when,  if  no  succours 
arrived,  they  agreed  to  surrender  the  town, 
frigates,  &c.  Lord  Hood  and  the  General  agreed 
to  give  them  six  days;  but,  whilst  this  was  going 
on,  four  small  vessels  got  in,  which  gave  them 
hopes,  I  suppose,  of  more  effectual  relief;  for  on 
the  30th  of  July  they  rejected  our  offer,  and  our 
fire  opened  with  all  the  effect  we  could  expect. 
On.  the  1st  of  August  at  eleven  o'clock,  when 
much  of  the  parapet  was  beat  down,  and  the 
houses  in  the  Citadel  were  either  in  ruins  or  in 
flames,  the  enemy  hung  out  a  white  flag,  and 
requested  a  suspension  of  hostilities  for  a  few 
hours,  to  prepare  terms.  In  twenty-four  hours 
every  thing  was  settled:  That  on  the  10th  of  Au- 
gust we  were  to  be  put  in  full  possession,  and  the 
garrison,  and  such  of  the  inhabitants  as  chose, 
were  to  be  transported  to  Toulon,  without  being 
prisoners  of  war;  provided  no  effectual  succours 
were  thrown  in  by  the  French.  Thus  is  likely  to 
end  the  attack  of  Corsica,  the  possession  of  which 
will  I  hope  benefit  our  Country. — On  the  8th  of 
August,  1794,  the  Admiral  made  known  the  thanks 


191 

of  both  Houses  of  Parliament, p  as  commanded 
by  bis  Majesty,    to  the  respective  officers,  sea- 
men,  marines,  and  soldiers,    who  had  been  em- 
ployed in  the  different  operations,  that  had  been, 
successfully   carried   on    against   the   enemy   in 
Corsica. —  During  the  Siege,  and  previous  to  our 
taking  possession  of  Calvi  on  the  10th,  according 
to  the  terms  agreed  on  by  General  Stuart  on  the 
1st  of  August,  the  Admiral  had  sent  several  de- 
spatches home,  from  some  of  which  the  following 
extracts  are  taken.     In  that  dated  August  5th, 
Lord  Hood  had  paid  the  highest  compliment  and 
rendered  the  most  essential  service  to  Captain 
Nelson,  by  the  opportunity  that  had  been  given 
him  to  tell  his  own  story:    "The  Journal  I  here- 
with transmit  from  Captain  Nelson,  will  shew  the 
daily  occurrences  of  the  Siege.   He  had  the  com- 
mand of  the  Seamen,  and  his  unremitting  zeal  and 
exertion  I  cannot  sufficiently  describe,   nor  that 
of  Captain  Hallo  well;  they  took  it  by  turns  to 
command  in  the  advanced  battery  twenty-four 
hours  at  a  time,  and  I  flatter  myself  that  both  of 
them,  as  well  as  the  other  officers  and  seamen, 
will  have  full  justice  done  them  by  the  General; 
it  is  therefore  unnecessary  for  me  to  say  any 
more  on  the  subject." — Lord    Hood   then   pro- 
ceeded to  mention  with  merited  commendation, 
that  able  and  valuable  officer,   Captain  Serocold 
who  had  fallen  during  the  Siege,   and  to  notice 
the  services  of  the  Captains  Wolseley,  Hood,  Sir 

t>  Voted  on  June  20.     See  4to  Ed.  Vol.  i.  page  188. 

I 


1.92 

C.  Hamilton,  Sir  Harry  Burrard,  Cunningham, 
Macnamara,  and  Robinson,  Mr.  Gibson  of  the 
Fox  cutter,  and  Messrs.  Harrison  and  Harring- 
ton. 

On  the  9th  of  August,  when  offCalvi,  his  Lord- 
ship in  transmitting  duplicates  of  the  above  de- 
spatches, had  acccompanied  them  with  the  fol- 
lowing spirited    remonstrance.      "Sir,   I   sailed 
from  Martello  bay  on  the  7th,  and  got  off  here 
the  next  morning.      In   the ,  evening,  between 
eight  and  nine  o'clock,   a  felucca  was  stopped 
coming  out  of  Calvi,  and  was  brought  alongside 
the  Victory;  the  coxswain  of  which  having  a 
pass  from  Lieutenant  General  Stuart,  I  have  the 
honour  to  transmit  a  copy  of  it;  which  is  all  the 
information  I  have  had  of  the  Capitulation;  the 
General  not  having  made  any  communication  to 
me  respecting  the  articles;  and,  excepting  a  de- 
sire to  know  on  the  2d  instant  at  midnight,  if  I 
would  allow  transports  to  carry  off  the  garrison, 
and  such  of  the  inhabitants  as  were  desirous  of 
leaving  the  island,  I  have  not  heard  a  word  froin 
him  since  the  2Qth  of  last  month  ;   when  he  came 
on  board  to  announce  the  proposition  of  Casa- 
bianca,  the  French  commandant,  for  a  twenty- 
five   days    truce.      No   failure,    however  great, 
either  of  official  or  personal   attention  which  I 
may  experience,   will  ever  make  me  depart  from 
that  duty  I  owe  to  my  King  and  Country;   and 
which  has  invariably  been  exerted  to  promote 
the  good  of  his  Majesty's  service  to  the  utmost 


of  my  power  upon  all  occasions,  and  I  shall  enable 
Lieutenant  General  Stuart  to  fulfil  the  articles  of 
the  Capitulation  he  has  made :  although  I  am 
\rell  aware  these  are  not  times  to  complain,  I 
must  state  facts. — I  owe  it  to  my  character,  to 
the  service,  as  well  as  to  the  public,  to  whose 
tribunal  I  shall  ever  cheerfully  submit  my  con- 
duct." 

In  a  letter  to  Lord  Hood  of  the  same  date, 
Captain  Nelson  gave  the  following  liberal  tribute 
of  Praise  to  those  Officers  who  had  assisted  him 
during  the  Siege.  "  My  Lord,  Having  trans- 
mitted my  Journal  of  the  Services  in  which  the 
seamen  have  been  engaged  during  the  whole 
Siege,  I  have  now  only  to  acquaint  your  Lord- 
ship of  the  highly  meritorious  conduct  of  every 
officer  and  seaman  landed  under  my  command; 
to  express  my  sincere  acknowledgments  for  the 
very  effectual  support  and  assistance  I  have  re- 
ceived from  the  ability,  zeal,  and  activity  of  Cap- 
tain Hallowell;  and  that  Lieutenants  Edmonds, 
Morgan,  and  Ferrier,  were  constantly  with  the 
seamen,  fighting  the  batteries;  to  which  were 
joined  on  the  last  batteries,  Lieutenants  Moutray, 
Hoy,  and  Suckling." — Captain  Nelson  also  men- 
tioned the  services  of  Lieutenant  Harrison,  a 
transport  agent,  and  of  Mr.  William  Harrington, 
master  of  the  Willington  and  the  transport's 
men,  who  had  aU  been  eager  either  to  serve  on 
shore,  or  on  board  his  Majesty's  ships.  He  re- 
turned on  board  his  old  ship  the  Agamemnon  on 


194 

the  1 1th  of  August.  In  a  letter  to  Mrs.  Nelson, 
dated  Aug.  18,  he  said,  *«  As  it  is  all  past  I  may 
now  tell  you,  that  on  the  10th  of  July  a  shot 
having  hit  our  battery,  the  splinters  and  stones 
from  it  struck  me  with  great  violence  in  the  face 
and  breast.  Although  the  blow  was  so  severe  as 
to  occasion  a  great  (low  of  blood  from  my  head, 
yet  I  most  fortunately  escaped,  having  only  my 
right  eye  nearly  deprived  of  its  sight;  it  was  cut 
down,  but  is  so  far  recovered,  as  for  me  to  be 
able  to  distinguish  light  from  darkness.  As  to  all 
the  purposes  of  use  it  is  gone;  however  the  ble- 
mish is  nothing,  not  to  be  perceived  unless  told. 
The  pupil  is  nearly  the  size  of  the  blue  part,  I 
don't  know  the  name.  At  Bastia,  I  got  a  sharp 
cut  in  the  back.  You  must  not  think  that  my 
hurts  confined  me:  no,  nothing  but  the  loss  of  a 
limb  would  have  kept  me  from  my  Duty,  and  I 
believe  my  exertions  conduced  to  preserve  me  in 
this  general  mortality.  I  am  fearful  that  Mrs. 
Moutray's  son,  who  was  on  shore  with  us,  will 
fall  a  sacrifice  to  the  climate;  he  is  a  lieutenant  of 
the  Victory,  a  very  fine  young  man,  for  whom  I 
have  a  great  regard." 

The  fears  which  he  expressed  in  this  letter  for 
Lieutenant  Moutray,  were  too  soon  realised  by 
his  death.  The  following  Inscription  was  drawn 
up  by  Nelson:  "  Sacred  to  the  memory  of  Lieu- 
tenant James  Moutray,  R.N.  who,  serving  on  shore 
at  the  biege  of  Calvi,  there  caught  a  fever,  of  which 
he  died,  sincerely  lamented,  on  August  \9tht  1794, 


195 

aged  2 1  years.  This  Stone  is  erected  by  an  affec- 
tionate Friend,  who  well  knew  his  worth  as  an 
Officer,  and  his  accomplished  manners  as  a  gentle- 
man. H.  jV."  In  a  letter,  to  Mrs.  Nelson,  dated 
Leghorn,  Sept.  12,  he  added,  I  "  expect  to  see  you 
in  the  fall  of  the  year;  and  although  I  shall  not 
bring  with  me  either  riches  or  honours,  yet  I 
flatter  myself  I  shall  bring  an  unblemished  Cha- 
racter. It  always  rejoices  me  to  hear  that  you 
are  comfortable,  and  that  my  friends  are  atten- 
tive to  you.  T  hope  we  shall  find  some  snug 
cottage,  whenever  we  may  be  obliged  to  quit  the 
parsonage.  When  Lord  Hood  leaves  this  station, 
I  should  be  truly  sorry  to  remain:  he  is  the 
greatest  Sea  Officer  I  ever  knew,  and  what  can  be 
said  against  him  I  cannot  conceive — it  must  only 
be  Envy,  and  it  is  better  to  be  envied  than  pitied. 
But  this  comes  from  the  Army,  who  have  also 
poisoned  some  few  of  our  minds.  The  taking  of 
Bastia  contrary  to  all  military  judgment,  is  such 
an  attack  on  them  that  it  is  never  to  be  for- 
given." 

(1794  )  Soon  after  the  date  of  the  above  letter, 
he  received  an  order  from  Lord  Hood,  dated  on 
board  the  Victory,  Sept.  18,  to  proceed  into  the 
mole  of  Genoa,  with  despatches  to  Mr.  Drake, 
and  there  to  wait  for  further  orders.  On  the 
20th,  he  wrote  as  follows,  from  thence,  to  Mrs. 
Nelson.  "  This  City  is  without  exception  the 
most  magnificent  I  ever  beheld,  superior  in  many 
respects  to  Naples  ;  although  it  does  not  appear 

o  2 


1.96 

quite  so  fine  from  the  sea,  yet  on  shore  it  is  far 
beyond  it.  All  the  houses  are  palaces  on  the 
grandest  scale.  However,  I  trust  we  shall  soon 
quit  these  magnificent  scenes  and  retire  to 
England,  where  all  that  I  admire  is  placed." 
Captain  Nelson's  reception,  from  the  Doge,  was 
far  more  flattering  than  he  expected,  after  our 
capture  of  the  Modeste  frigate.  In  writing  to 
Lord  Hood  on  the  23d  of  September,  he  gave 
the  following  account  of  this  visit.  "  On  Sunday 
evening  I  waited  on  the  Doge,  and  as  Mr.  Drake 
was  not  arrived,  I  found  it  absolutely  necessary 
to  say  something  civil.  The  Doge  was  much 
pleased,  and  very  polite.  I  was  received  in  some 
state,  the  Doge  advancing  to  the  middle  of  the 
room.  I  had  the  honour  also  of  a  senato.  On 
my  departure  from  the  palace,  the  orders  of  the 
Doge  had  arrived  before  me  at  the  gates;  where 
the  captain  of  the  guard  told  me,  he  had  received 
the  mandate  for  opening  them  at  whatever  time 
I  pleased." 

The  following  letter  from  his  Father  could 
not  fail  to  act  as  a  powerful  support  on  the  enter- 
prising mind  of  the  Son.  "  My  dear  Horatio,  It 
is  well  known  that  the  predestinarian  doctrine  is 
amongst  the  creeds  of  military  men — It  may 
sometimes  be  useful ;  yet  it  must  not  exclude  the 
confidence  which  Christianity  preaches  of  a 
particular  Providence,  that  directs  all  events.  It 
was  an  unerring  Power,  wise  and  good,  which 
diminished  the  force  of  the  blow  by  which  your 


197 

eye  was  lost;  and  we  thank  the  hand  that  spared 
you  for  future  good,  for  Example  and  In- 
struction in  many  subsequent  years.  There  is 
no  fear  that  flattery  can  come  from  me ;  hut  I 
sometimes  wipe  away  the  tear  of  joy,  at  hearing 
your  Character  in  every  point  of  view  so  well 
spoken  of.  Your  lot  is  cast,  but  the  whole  dis- 
posing thereof  is  of  the  Lord,  the  very  hairs  of 
your  head  are  numbered ;  a  most  comfortable 
doctrine.  Accept,  my  dear  good  son,  the  usual 
but  mast  hearty  expressions  of  love  and  friend- 
ship from  your  affectionate  Father,  Edmund 
Nelson." 

The  following  letters  to  Mrs.  Nelson  continue 
an  account  of  his  proceedings:  the  first  is  dated 
the  3d  of  that  month,  off  Gourjean.  "  Lord  Hood 
is  gone  to  Leghorn  to  receive  his  despatches  by  a 
messenger,  wlio  is  arrived  from  England,  and 
most  probably*  we  shall  only  see  him  to  take  leave. 
Admiral  Hotham  will  be  Commander  in  Chief, 
and  with  new  men,  new  measures  are  generally 
adopted;  therefore  I  can  at  present  say  nothing 
about  myself,  except  that  I  am  in  most  perfect 
health.  My  ship's  company  are  by  no  means  re- 
covered, and  we  are  destined  to  keep  the  sea, 
until  both  ship  and  crew  are  rendered  unfit  for 
service.  Pray  let  me  hear  often  from  you,  it  is 
my  greatest  comfort. — I  hope  you  will  spend  the 
winter  cheerfully.  The  Wolterton  family,  ^Lord 
Walpole)  I  am  sure  will  be  happy  to  receive  you 
for  as  long  a  time  as  you  please.  Do  not  repine 


at  my  absence;  before  Spring  I  hope  we  shall 
have  peace,  when  we  must  look  out  for  some  little 
Cottage.  I  assure  you  I  shall  return  to  the  plough 
with  redoubled  glee. — October  \5th.  Two  of  my 
opponents,  whom  I  fell  in  with  last  year  about  this 
time,  are  now  in  England,  or  near  it ;  the  St.  Fio- 
renzo,  late  la  Minerve,  and  la  Melpomene,  both 
of  40  guns,  18  pounders,  two  as  fine  frigates  as 
are  in  the  world.  I  have  been  fortunate  in  being 
present  at  the  taking  and  destroying  of  that 
whole  Squadron,  and  which,  but  for  our  disabling 
them,  intended  to  have  returned  to  France ; 
they  are  now  better  disposed  of.'* 

On  the  10th  of  November,  when  writing  to 
Sir  Gilbert  Elliot,  the  Viceroy  of  Corsica,  Cap- 
tain Nelson  communicated  his  ideas  respecting 
the  importance  of  securing  Ajaccio  against  the 
enemy.  "  If  they  have  an  intention  of  getting 
a  footing  in  Corsica,  Ajaccio q  is  the  place  they 
will  attempt;  and,  should  they  succeed,  we  shall 
find  it  difficult  to  drive  them  out  again.  I  never 
was  there,  but  it  strikes  me,  they  might  suc- 
ceed ;« for  the  Corsicans  understand  nothing  of 
the  art  of  defending  fortified  towns.  You  will, 
I  am  sure,  receive  what  I  am  going  to  say,  as  it 

q  It  was  from  this  Town  that  Buonaparte  and  his  family  were 
banished  in  the  year  1793.  The  mayor  of  Ajaccio,  Tartaroli, 
who  drew  up  their  Sentence  in  very  strong  terms,  is  now  in  Lon- 
don. In  1794  Tartaroli  was  President  oir  .he  criminal  tribunal, 
and  Director  General  of  the  Artillery  in  Corsica, 


199 

is  meant,  and  will  believe  that  all  my  wishes  and 
desires  are  to  see  our  Country  successful,  and  the 
schemes  of  our  enemies  frustrated.  J  am  well 
aware  it  may  be  said,  and  with  truth,  that  we 
have  not  troops  in  the  Island  to  defend  any  one 
place  properly.  I  admit  it;  but  in  answer  I  re- 
ply, and  am  satisfied  in  my  own  mind  it  will  turn 
out  so,  If  the  enemy  make  an  attempt,  some 
troops  and  artillery  stationed  at  Ajaccio  to  keep 
the  gates  shut  a  few  days,  would  render  their 
schemes  abortive;  and  if  a  Guardship  were  added, 
the  seamen  in  case  of  necessity  could  go  on  shore 
to  man  the  works  :  for  if  the  enemy  get  Ajaccio, 
they  may  remain  there  with  their  whole  fleet, 
or  leave  a  single  frigate,  neither  of  which  we 
could  attack  ;  for  there  are  no  soundings  in  the 
gulf,  and  the  sea  setting  constantly  in  would 
make  us  keep  at  a  distance.  With  this  defence 
I  am  confident  the  place,  and  I  believe  I  may 
say  the  island  of  Corsica,  woukl  be  perfectly  safe 
until  our  fleet  could  get  to  the  enemy,  when  I 
have  no  doubt  the  event  Avould  be  what  every 
Briton  might  expect:  besides  we  have  the  incite- 
ment, if  any  is  wanted,  of  our  home  fleet,  and 
we  shall  not  like  to  be  outdone  by  any  one. 

<{  I  have  taken  the  liberty  of  mentioning  these 
ideas  respecting  the  importance  of  Ajaccio,  only 
on  the  belief  which  I  have,  that  your  Excellency 
will  receive  it  as  a  private  communication.  My 
situation  does  not  entitle  me  to  give  any  public 
opinion  on  such  a  point:  as  a  private  one  I  send 


200 

it,  and  shall  be  happy  if  it  gives  rise  to  a  serious 
consideration  of  the  importance  of  that  place; 
•when,  I  doubt  not,  much  more  proper  modes  of 
defence  and  security  will  be  thought  of,  than  I 
have  suggested.  But,  however  that  may  be,  I 
am  bold  to  say,  none  can  exceed  me  in  the 
earnest  desire  of  faithfully  serving  my  King  and 
Country." 

In  writing  to  Mrs.  Nelson,  he  added,  "  The 
French  say  they  will  have  Corsica  again.  There 
has  been  a  most  diabolical  report  here,  of  Aga- 
memnon's being  captured  and  carried  into  Tou- 
lon, owing  to  my  running  into  the  harbour's 
mouth.  I  hope  it  has  not  reached  England.  Never 
believe  any  thing  you  may  see  in'  the  papers 
about  us,  and  rest  assured,  that  Agamemnon  is 
not  to  be  taken  easily:  no  two  decked  ship  in  the 
world,  we  flatter  ourselves,  is  able  to  do  it.  God 
bless  you,  and  give  us  a  happy  meeting,  prays 
your  affectionate  husband,  Horatio  Nelson." 

Captain  Nelson  to  his  Royal  Highness  the  Duke 
of  Clarence. — "  Sir,  Our  transports,  which  had 
been  detained  at  Toulon  since  the  time  they  car- 
ried over  the  garrison  of  Calvi,  arrived  on  the 
22d.  No  reason  was  ever  given  for  detaining 
them;  but  their  sails  were  taken  from  them,  and 
during  their  stay  not  a  man  was  suffered  to  go 
on  shore:  they  were  however  treated  tolerably, 
until  the  arrival  of  Jean  Bon  St.  Andr£;  who,  to 
the  officer's  modest  and  proper  requests,  gave 
insolent  answers,  the  true  characteristic  of  little 


201 

minds:  a  generous  enemy  would  have  disdained 
the  withholding  medical  assistance  from  the  un- 
fortunate, whom  chance  had  put  in  their  power. 
At  eight  o'clock  in  the  evening  of  the  20th,  their 
sails  were  sent  alongside,  and  a  message,  that  if 
they  were  not  out  of  the  harbour  by  twelve  o'clock 
next  day,  they  would  keep  them.  The  English, 
poor  fellows,  wanted  no  spur  to  clear  them  of  such 
wretches ;  one  transport  that  got  aground  they 
left  behind,  and  she  is  not  yet  arrived.  The  ene- 
my have  fifteen  sail  of  the  line  ready  for  sea, 
with  which,  they  say,  they  mean  to  fight  our 
fleet;  and  as  Admiral  Hotham  sailed  from  Fia- 
rerizo  on  the  2.5th,  to  go  off  Toulon  with  thirteen 
sail  of  the  line,  they  will  have  the  opportunity. 
As  to  the  event,  I  have  no  doubt  it  will  be 
victory  on  the  side  of  the  English." 

Anno  xil.    The  Rev.  Edmund   Nelson,  at 

/btat.  37. 

the  beginning  of  179^,  as  was  his  cus- 
tom, sent  a  parental  letter  to  his  son;  who, 
though  at  such  a  distance,  had  not  forgot  the 
poor  of  Burnham  Thorpe.  "  Bath,  new  year's 
day,  179-5.  My  dear  Horatio,  I  have  received 
your  letter,  with  those  contents  which  are  ex- 
pressive of  a  benevolent  and  truly  Christian  heart ; 
and  I  have  endeavoured  to  distribute  your  Christ- 
mas gift  in  the  best  manner  I  could  think  of, 
chiefly  in  a  little  warm  clothing  to  the  widows 
and  orphans,  and  very  old  men :  blessed  is  the 
man  who  considereth  the  poor  and  needy.  He 


who  has  been  marvellously  your  shield,  will  still 
I  hope  and  pray  be  jour  protector.  Before  I  see 
Burnham,  I  must  shake  hands  with  the  Agamem- 
non's Captain,  Horatio  Nelson,  whose  friendship 
as  well  as  affection  I  can  rely  upon.  The  pros- 
pect that  Agamemnon  would  soon  come  into  an 
English  port,  is  for  the  present  clouded;  yet  at  a 
day  not  far  distant  it  will  again  appear.  Old 
ships  and  weaned  men  must  be  repaired.  Your 
good  wife,  whose  attention  to  me  I  cannot  suffi- 
ciently praise,  is  here.  Accept  our  new  Year's 
gift,  Good  JVishes,  the  poor  man's  all.  God  bless 
you  with  prosperous  events.  Farewell!  an  affec- 
tionate father,  Edmund  Nelson." 

(1795.)  To  Mrs.  Nelson,  dated  Fiorenzo,  Jan.  \7. 
"  We  have  had  nothing  but  gales  of  wind,  but  in 
Agamemnon  we  mind  them  not ;  she  is  the  finest 
ship  I  ever  sailed  in,  and,  were  she  a  74,  nothing 
should  induce  me  to  leave  her  whilst  the  war 
lasted;  for  not  an  hour  this  war  will  I,  if  possible, 
be  out  of  active  service.  Much  as  I  shall  regret 
being  so  long  parted  from  you,  still  we  must  look 
beyond  the  present  day,  and  two  or  three  months 
may  make  the  differenceof  every  comfort,  or  other- 
wise, in  our  income,  I  hope  we  have  many  happy 
years  to  live  together,  and  if  we  can  bring  I2000l. 
round,  I  am  determined  to  purchase  some  neat 
Cottage,  which  we  should  never  have  occasion 
to  change.  As  to  Josiah,  I  have  no  doubt  but  he 
will  be  a  comfort  to  both  of  us;  his  understand- 


203 

ing  is  excellent,  and  his  disposition  really  good: 
he  is  a  Seaman  every  inch  of  him." 

To  his  Royal  Highness  the  Duke  of  Clarence, 
dated  Fiorenzo,  Jan.  19-     "  Sir,  Our  last  cruise, 
from  December  21,    179*,  to  January  the  10th 
when  we  arrived  in  this  port,  was  such  a  series 
of  storms  and  heavy  seas,  as  I  never  before  expe- 
rienced ;  the  fleet  was  twelve  days  under  storm 
stay-sails.     Our  ships,  although  short  of  comple- 
ment, are  remarkably  healthy,  as  are  the  troops 
in  this  Island.     There  is  already  a  difference  to 
be  perceived  in  the  cultivation  of  the  land  since 
last  year.     Many  hundred  acres  of  pasture  are 
now  covered  with  wheat;  and  as  the  Corsicans 
will  find  a  ready  sale  for  their  corn,    wine,   and 
oil  (the  two  last  articles  the  French  suppressed 
as  much  as  possible),  every  year  will  doubtless  in- 
crease the  growth.     The  fleet  goes  to  sea  on  the 
22d  or  23d,  thirteen  sail  of  the  line.    The  French 
have  fifteen  in  the  outer  road  of  Toulon,  and 
fifty  sail  of  large  transports  ready  at  Marseilles; 
therefore  it  is  certain  they  have  some  expedition 
just  ready  to  take  place,   and  I  have  no  doubt 
but  Porto  Especia  is  their  object.     We  expect 
soon  to  be  joined  by  some  Neapolitan  ships  and 
frigates:  I  have  no  idea  we  shall  get  much  good 
from  them;  they  are  not  seamen,  and  cannot 
keep  the   sea  beyond  a   passage.     I    beg   your 
Royal  Highness  to  believe,  that  I  ever  am  your 
most  faithful  servant. " 


204 

ToAlrs.  Nelson.  Fiore?izo,  January  3  [&t.  It 
is  with  inexpressible  pleasure  I  have  received 
within  these  two  days  past  your  letters,  with  our 
father's  of  January  1st.  I  rejoice  that  my  con- 
duct gives  you  pleasure,  and  I  trust  I  shall  never 
do  any  thing  which  will  bring  a  blush  on  your 
face,  or  on  that  of  any  of  my  friends.  It  is  very 
true  that  I  have  ever  served  faithfully,  and  ever 
has  it  been  my  fate  to  be  neglected;  but  that  shall 
not  make  me  inattentive  to  my  Duty.  I  have 
pride  in  doing  my  Duty  well,  and  a  self  appro- 
bation, which  if  it  is  not  so  lucrative,  yet  perhaps 
affords  more  pleasing  sensations.  I  trust  the 
time  will  come  when  I  may  be  rewarded,  though 
really  I  don't  flatter  myself  it  is  near.  Lord 
Hood  told  me  that  my  loss  of  an  eye  should  be 
represented  to  his  Majesty,  Lord  Chatham" car- 
ried my  papers  to  the  King;  but  now  he  is  out,  all 
hopes  will  be  done  away.  My  eye  is  grown 
worse,  and  is  in  almost  total  darkness  and  very 
painful  at  times.  But  never  mind,  I  can  see  very 
well  with  the  other. 

"  I  believe  I  shall  inform  Lord  Hood,  what  I 
never  told  him  yet,  That  after  every  thing  was 
fixed  for  the  attack  of  Bastia,  I  had  information 
given  me  of  the  enormous  number  of  troops  we 
had  to  oppose  us;  but  my  own  Honour,  Lord 
Hood's  Honour,  and  the  Honour  of  our  Country, 
must  have  all  been  sacrificed,  had  I  mentioned 
what  I  knew.  Therefore,  you  will  believe, 
what  must  have  been  my  feelings  during  the 


205 

whole  Siege,  when  I  had  often  proposals  made  to 
me  by  men,  now  rewarded,  to  write  to  Lord  Hood 
to  raise  the  Siege..  Remember  me  kindly  to  our 
friends  at  Bristol.  I  also  beg  to  present  my  best 
compliments  at  Wolterton." 

( 1 795- )  Captain  Nelson,  in  another  letter  to  his 
wife,  enters  very  ably  into  the  political,  naval, 
and  commercial  advantages  of  the  Island  of  Cor- 
sica. "  St.  Fioroizo,  February  7th.  This  day 
twelve  months,  my  dear  Fanny,  our  troops  landed 
here  to  attempt  the  conquest  of  the  Island,-  at 
least  of  those  parts  which  the  French  were  in  pos- 
session of;  and  however  lightly  the  acquisition 
of  Corsica  may  be  deemed  by  many  in  England, 
yet  I  take  upon  me  to  say,  It  was  a  measure 
founded  on  great  wisdom;  and  during  the  war 
must  be. ever  of  the  most  essential  service  to  us, 
and  very  detrimental  to  our  enemies.  After  the 
evacuation  of  Toulon,  we  had  no  place  whatever 
of  our  own  for  the  fleet  to  anchor  in.  Tuscany 
was  wavering,  and,  although  since  declared  for 
us,  yet  we  are  not  certain  of  her  alliance  from 
one  day  to  another.  The  French  consul  at  Leg- 
horn, though  not  received  officially,  has  never 
quitted  that  place,  and  we  know  that  attempts 
have  been  made  to  get  Tuscany  again  acknow- 
ledged by  the  French  as  a  neutral  power;  in 
which  case  what  security  have  we  for  our  fleet, 
and  the  numerous  victuallers  and  storeships  at- 
tendant on  it?  Corsica  has  always  supplied  Tou- 
lon with  all  the  straight  timbers,  beams,  decks, 


206 

and  sides  for  their  ships;  they  are  now  deprived 
of  that  supply,  which  would  have  enabled  them 
by  this  time  to  have  built  a  small  Fleet;  and  be- 
sides, the  Corsican  tar  and  hemp  formed  by  no 
means  an  inconsiderable  source  for  the  dock- 
yards at  Toulon.  Moreover,  all  our  trade  with 
that  of  our  allies,  is  obliged  to  make  the  coasts 
of  this  Island,  the  ports  of  which  would  have  been 
so  full  of  row  gallies,  that  no  commerce  could 
have  been  carried  on.  Nor  could  our  men  of  war 
have  prevented  the  evil,  for  half  the  twenty-four 
hours  is  calm,  when  these  vessels  would  take  the 
merchant  men,  though  the  whole  of  the  British 
Navy  was  in  sight.  So  much  for  the  value  of 
Corsica,  I  have  done;  the  recollection  of  one 
short  year  brings  it  to  my  mind.  It  was  Lord 
Hood's  plan,  and  it  was  accomplished  chiefly  by 
Seamen." 

"  Agamemnon  at  sea,  March  10, 17.95.  We  are 
just  in  sight  of  the  French  fleet,  and  a  signal  is 
out  for  a  general  chace.  We  have  but  little 
wind,  and  unfortunately  the  enemy  are  in  shore 
of  us;  however,  I  hope  the  Admiral  will  allow  us 
to  go  on,  and  if  the  French  do  not  skulk  under 
their  batteries,  I  trust  we  shall  give  a  good  ac- 
count of.  them.  Whatever  may  be  my  fate,  I 
have  no  doubt  in  my  own  mind  but  that  my 
conduct  will  be  such,  as  will  not  bring  a  blush 
on  the  face  of  my  friends.  The  lives  of  all  are  in 
the  hands  of  Him,  who  knows  best  whether  to  pre- 
serve mine  or  not :  to  His  will  do  I  resign  myself. 


207 

My  Character  and  good  Name  arc  in  my  own 
keeping.  Life  with  disgrace  is  dreadful.  A 
glorious  Death  is  to  be  envied;  and  if  any  thing 
happens  to  me,  recollect  that  Death  is  a  debt  we 
must  all  pay,  and  whether  now,  or  a  few  years 
hence,  can  be  but  of  little  consequence.  God 
bless  you,  and  believe  me  ever  your  most  faith- 
ful and  affectionate  husband." 

(1795.)  The  following  is  an  account'  of  Admiral 
Hothanrs  subsequent  Action  in  the  Mediterra- 
nean, written  by  Captain  Nelson,  and  beginning 
from  the  8th  of  March. 

"  On  Sunday,  March  8,  at  five  P.  M.  the  Mo- 
selle being  near  the  Gorgona,  and  making  the 
signal  for  a  fleet  to  the  westward,  the  Admiral 
made  the  one  to  unmoor,  and  to  prepare  to 
weigh  after  dark;  and  on  the  9th,  at  five  A.  M. 
the  signal  was  made  to  weigh,  the  wind  blowing 
a  fine  breeze  from  the  eastward :  at  eight  o'clock 
every  ship  was  without  the  Melora.  The  signal 
was  then  made  for  the  Inconstant  to  look  out 
W.S.W.  Meleager  N.W.  and  the  Tarleton,  14 
guns,  to  proceed  to  St.  Fiorenzo,  and  order  the 
Berwick  to  join  the  fleet.  At  four  P.  M.  Cape 
Corse  W.S.W.  four  or  five  leagues,  little  wind, 
the  fleet  hauled  up  to  the  N.  W.  At  half  past  five, 
the  Meleager  made  the  signal  for  the  enemy's 
fleet,  eighteen  sail,  and  at  eight  the  Admiral 

r  From  the  Nelson  papers,  entitled,  "  Transactions  on  board 
his  Majesty's  ship  Agamemnon,  and  of  the  fleet,  as  seen  and 
known,  by  Captain  Nelson." 


208 

made  the  signal  that  the  enemy  was  supposed  to 
be  near.  March  10th,  at  day-light  the  Tarleton 
joined,  and  gave  information  that  a  boat  came  off 
from  Cape  Corse,  and  told  them  that  the  Berwick 
had  been  'taken  on  the  7th.  About  half  past 
nine  A.M.  the  signal  was  made  for  all  the  flag 
officers,  and  at  ten  the  Moselle  made  the  signal 
for  a  fleet,  twenty-five  sail,  in  the  N.  W.  Signal 
for  a  general  chace  in  that  quarter.  All  day  very 
light  airs,  in  the  evening  a  light  breeze  westerly. 
At  half  past  five,  P.M.  the  Moselle  made  the  signal 
that  the  enemy  were  upon  a  wind  on  the  star- 
board tack.  At  six,  the  signal  was  made  to  form 
in  two  divisions:  stood  to  the  northward  until 
midnight,  when  the  Admiral  made  the  signal  to 
form  in  the  order  of  battle.  March  1 1  th,  at  day- 
light, nothing  in  sight;  all  day  light  airs,  and 
variable,  with  a  heavy  swell  from  the  S.  W.  In 
the  afternoon  saw  a  French  brig  to  the  west- 
ward, making  signals;  it  was  nearly  calm  all 
night,  but  at  times  the  wind  flew  all  round  the 
compass. 

"  March  12th,  at  day-light,  we  saw  near  us 
the  Princess  Royal,  Fortitude,  and  Egmont.  At 
the  distance  of  four  or  five  miles  to  the  north- 
ward, the  Captain,  Illustrious,  and  Tancredi,  a 
Neapolitan  74.  To  the  E.  S.  E.  were  a  number 
of  ships  with  the  foot  of  their  topsails  out  of  the 
water,  and  to  the  south  a  number  of  ships,  their 

•  By  the  French  fleet. 


209 

hulls  just  rising  out  of  the  water.  At  six  the 
Egmont  made  the  signal  for  a  strange  fleet,  and 
at  the  same  time  the  Princess  Royal  made  the 
signal  for  the  enemy's  fleet,  south.  We  endea- 
voured to  join  the  Princess  Royal,  which  we  ac- 
complished at  nine  A.  M.  Light  airs,  southerly, 
the  enemy's  fleet  nearing  us  very  fast,  our  fleet 
nearly  hecalmed ;  at  a  quarter  past  nine,  Admiral 
Goodall  made  the  signal  for  the  ships  near  to 
form  ahead  and  astern  of  him,  as  most  convenient. 
Admiral  Hotham  made  the  same  signal,  and  the 
Egmont  stood  from  us  to  join  Admiral  Hotham, 
our  ships  endeavouring  to  form  a  junction :  the  ene- 
my pointing  to  separate  us,  but  under  a  very  easy 
sail ;  they  did  not  appear  to  me  to  act  as  officers 
who  knew  any  thing  of  their  profession.  At  noon 
they  began  to  form  a  line  on  the  larboard  tack, 
which  they  never  accomplished,  at  two  P.  M. 
they  bore  down  in  a  line  ahead,  nearly  before  the 
wind,  but  not  more  than  nine  sail  formed.  They 
then  hauled  the  wind  on  the  larboard  tack,  about 
three  miles  from  us,  the  wind  southerly,  Genoa 
light-house  N.  N.  E.  about  five  leagues,  saw  the 
town  very  plain.  At  half  past  three  P.M.  joined 
Admiral  Hotham,  who  made  the  signal  to  pre- 
pare for  battle;  the  body  of  the  enemy's  fleet 
about  three  or  four  miles  distant.  At  six  minutes 
past  four,  the  signal  was  made  to  form  the  order 
of  battle  on  the  larboard  tack,  and  at  half  past 
four,  for  each  ship  to  carry  a  light  during  the 
night,  at  sixteen  minutes  past  five,  for  each  ship 

p 


210 

to  take  suitable  stations  for  their  mutual  sup- 
port, and  to  engage  the  enemy  as  they  came  up. 
Our  fleet  at  this  time  was  tolerably  well  formed, 
and  with  a  fine  easterly  breeze ;  which,  had  it 
lasted  half  an  hour,  would  certainly  have  led  us 
through  the  enemy's  fleet  about  four  ships  from 
the  van  ships  that  were  separated  from  the 
'Centre  about  one  mile.  At  three  quarters  past 
five  the  fleet  hoisted  their  colours,  and  at  dark, 
the  wind  came  fresh  from  the  westward.  At 
fifty-five  minutes  past  six,  the  signal  was  made  to 
wear  together;  we  had  a  fresh  breeze  all  night, 
and. stood  to  the  southward,  as  did  the  enemy. 

"March  13th,  at  daylight,  the  enemy's  fleet 
appeared  in  the  S.  W.  distant  about  three  or  four 
leagues,  with  fresh  breezes.  Signal  for  a  general 
chace.  At  eight  A.  M.  a  French  ship  of  the  line 
carried  away  her  main  and  fore  top-masts ;  at  a 
quarter  past  nine  the  Inconstant  frigate  fired  at 
the  disabled  ship,  but  receiving  many  shot,  was 
obliged  to  leave  her.  At  ten  A.  M.  tacked,  and 
stood  towards  the  disabled  ship,  and  two  other 
ships  of  the  line:  the  disabled  ship  proved  to  be 
the  Ca  Ira  of  84  guns,1  the  two  others  were  the 
Sans  Culottes,  120  guns,  and  the  Jean  Barras,  74 
guns.  We  could  have  fetched  the  Sans  Culottes 
by  passing  the  Ca  Ira  to  windward,  but,  on  look- 


1  Previously  called  the  Couronne.  French  weight,  36,  24,  12 
pounders;  English,  42,  27,  14  pounders  j  1300  men.  This  ship 
was,  in  179(5,  accidentally  burnt  in  Fiorenzo  Bay. 


211 

ing  round,  I  saw  no  ship  of  the  line  within  several 
miles  to  support  me;  the  Captain  was  the  nearest 
on  our  lee  quarter.  I  then  determined  to  direct 
my  attention  to  the  Ca  Ira,  who  ,at  a  quarter 
past  ten  was  taken  in  tow  by  a  frigate ;  the  Sans 
Culottes  and  Jean  Barras  keeping  about  gun- 
shot distance  on  her  weather  bow.  At  twenty 
minutes  past  ten  the  Ca  Ira  began  firing  her 
stern  chaces ;  at  half  past  ten  the  Inconstant 
passed  us  to  leeward,  standing  for  the  fleet:  As 
we  drew  up  with  the  enemy,  so  true  did  the 
Ca  Ira  fire  her  stern  guns,  that  not  a  shot  missed 
some  part  of  the  ship,  and  latterly  the  masts  were 
struck  by  every  shot,  which  obliged  me  to  open 
our  fire  a  few  minutes  sooner  than  I  wished  ;  for 
it  had  been  my  intention  to  have  touched  her 
stern,  before  a  shot  was  fired.  But  seeing  plainly, 
from  the  situation  of  the  two  fleets,  the  impossi- 
bility of  being  supported,  and,  in  case  any  acci- 
dent happened  to  our  masts,  the  certainty  of 
being  severely  cut  up,  I  resolved  to  fire  as  soon 
as  I  thought  we  had  a  certainty  of  hitting.  Ac- 
cordingly at  a  quarter  before  eleven  A.  M.  being 
within  one  hundred  yards  of  the  Ca  Ira's  stern, 
I  ordered  the  helm  to  be  put  a  starboard,  and  the 
driver  and  after-sails  to  be  brailed  up,  and  shiv- 
ered ;  and,  as  the  ship  fell  off,  we  gave  her  our 
whole  broadside,  each  gun  double  shotted,  and 
scarcely  a  shot  appeared  to  miss.  The  instant  a-U 
had  been  fired — braced  up  our  after-yards,  put 
the  helm  a-port,  and  stood  after  her  again.  This 


212 

manoeuvre  we  practised  until  one  P.  M.  never 
allowing  the  Ca  Ira  to  get  a  single  gun  from 
either  side  to  fire  on  us  ;  they  attempted  some  of 
their  after  guns,  but  all  went  far  ahead  of  us  :  at 
this  time  the  Ca  Ira  was  a  perfect  wreck,  her 
sails  hanging  in  tatters,  mizen  top-mast,  mizen 
top-sail,  and  cross-jack  yards,  shot  away.  At 
one  P.  M.  the  frigate  hove  in  stays,  and  got  the 
Ca  Ira  round.  N.  B.  I  observed  the  guns  of  the 
Ca  Ira  to  be  much  elevated,  doubtless  laid  so  for 
our  rigging,  and  for  distant  shots  ;  and  when  she 
opened  her  fire  in  passing,  the  elevation  not  be- 
ing altered,  almost  every  shot  passed  over  us, 
very  few  striking  our  hull.  The  captain  of  the 
Ca  Ira  told  Admiral  Goodall  and  myself  after- 
wards, that  we  had  killed  and  wounded  1 10  men, 
and  had  so  cut  his  rigging  to  pieces,  that  it  was 
impossible  for  him  to  get  up  other  top-masts. 

"  As  the  frigate  first,  and  then  the  Ca  Ira,  got 
their  guns  to  bear,  each  opened  her  fire,  and  we 
passed  within  half-pistol  shot.  As  soon  as  our  after 
guns  ceased  to  bear,  the  ship  was  hove  in  stays, 
keeping  up  as  she  came  round  a  constant  fire,  and 
the  ship  was  worked  with  as  much  exactness  as 
if  she  had  been  turning  into  Spithead.  On  get- 
ting round  I  saw  the  Sans  Culottes,  who  had 
before  wore,  with  many  of  the  enemy's  ships, 
under  our  lee-bow;  and  standing  to  pass  to  lee- 
ward of  us  under  top-gallarit  sails.  At  half  past 
pne  P.  M.  the  Admiral  made  the  signal  for  the  van 
ships  to  join  him.  I  instantly  bore  away,  and 


prepared  to  set  all  our  sails;  but  the  enemy, 
having  saved  their  ship,  hauled  close  to  the  wind, 
and  opened  their  fire  so  distant  as  to  do  us  no 
harm,  not  a  shot,  I  believe,  hitting.  Our  sails 
and  rigging  were  very  much  cut,  and  we  ha,d 
many  shot  in  our  hull,  and  between  wind  and 
water;  but,  wonderful  to  say,  only  seven  men 
were  wounded.  The  enemy,  as  they  passed  our 
nearest  ships,  opened  their  fire,  yet  not  a  shot,  as 
I  saw,  reached  any  ship  except  the  Captain,  who 
had  a  few  through  her  sails. — We  were  employed 
until  evening  in  shifting  our  top-sails,  and  spli- 
cing our  rigging ;  at  dark  we  were  in  our  station. 
The  signal  was  then  made  for  each  ship  to  carry 
a  light.  What  little  wind  we  had  was  south- 
westerly all  night — stood  to  the  westward,  as  did 
the  enemy. 

(1795.)  "March  14th,  at  day  light,  we  were  taken 
aback  with  a  fine  breeze  at  N.  W.  which  gave 
us  the  weather  gage,  whilst  the  enemy's  fleet 
kept  the  southerly  wind.  Saw  the  Ca  Ira,  and 
a  line  of  battle  ship  who  had  her  in  tow,  about 
three  miles  and  a  half  from  us,  and  the  body  of 
the  enemy's  fleet  about  five  miles  distant.  At 
a  quarter  past  six  A.M.  the  signal  was  made  for 
the  line  of  battle,  S.  E.  and  N.  W;  and  at  forty 
minutes  past  six,  for  the  Captain  and  Bedford 
to  attack  the  enemy.  At  seven  A.  M.  signal  for 
the  Bedford  to  engage  close — Bedford's  signal 
repeated  for  close  action ;  at  five  minutes  past 
seven,  for  the  Captain  to  engage  close,  the  Cap- 


214 

tain's  and  Bedfordls  signals  repeated.  At  this 
time  the  shot  from  the  enemy  reached  us,  but 
from  a  great  distance.  At  a  quarter  past  seven, 
the  signal  was  made  for  the  fleet  to  come  to  the 
wind  on  the  larboard  tack;  this  signal  threw  us 
and  the  Princess  Royal  to  leeward  of  the  Illustri- 
ous, Courageux,  and  Britannia.  At  twenty  mi- 
nutes past  seven  the.  Britannia  hailed,  and  or- 
dered me  to  go  to  the  assistance  of  the  Captain 
and  Bedford;  made  all  sail,  Captain  lying  like 
a  log  on  the  water,  all  her  sails  and  rigging 
being  shot  away,  Bedford  on  a  wind  on  the  lar- 
board tack.  At  half  past  seven,  the  signal  made 
to  annul  coming  to  the  wind  on  the  larboard 
tack;  at  thirty-five  minutes  past  seven,  signal 
for  the  Illustrious  and  Courageux  to  make  more 
sail;  forty  minutes  past  seven,  the  same  signal 
repeated;  forty-two  minutes  past  seven,  Bedford 
to  wear,  and  Courageux  to  get  into  her  station. 
At  this  time  I  passed  the  Captain,  hailed  Admiral 
Goo<3all,  and  told  him  Admiral  Hotham's  orders, 
and  desired  to  know  if  I  should  go  ahead  of 
him?  Admiral  Goodall  desired  me  to  keep 
close  to  his  stern.  The  Illustrious  and  Coura- 
geux took  their  stations  ahead  of  the  Princess 
Hoyal,  the  Britannia  placed  herself  astern  of  me, 
and  the  Tancredi  lay  on  the  Britannia's  lee  quar- 
ter. At  eight  A.  M.  the  enemy  began  to  pass 
our  line  to  windward,  and  the  Ca  Ira  and  le  Cen- 
seur  were  on  our  lee-side;  therefore  the  Illustri- 
ous, Courageux,  Princess  Royal,  and  Agamemnon, 


215 

were  obliged  to  fight  on  both  sides  -of  the 
ship.  The  enemy  s  fleet  kept  the  southerly  wind, 
and  this  enabled  them  to  preserve, their  distance, 
which  was  very  great.  From  eight  to  ten  we 
continued  engaging  on  both  sides:  about  three 
quarters  past  eight,  the  Illustrious  lost  her  main 
and  mizen-masts,  at  a  quarter  past  nine  the  Cou- 
rageux  lost  her  main  and  mizen-masts,  at  twenty 
five  minutes  past  nine  the  Ca  Ira  lost  all  her 
masts,  and  fired  very  little,  at  ten  le  Censeur  lost 
her  main-mast.  At  five  minutes  past  ten  they  both 
struck,  and  I  sent  Lieutenant  George  Andrews, 
as  gallant  an  officer  as  ever  stepped  a  quarter 
deck,  to  board  them ;  who  hoisted  English  colours, 
and  carried  their  Captains,  by  order  of  Admiral 
Hotham,  to  Admiral  Goodall  on  board  the  Prin- 
cess Royal.  By  computation  the  Ca  Ira  is  sup- 
posed to  have  about  350  killed  and  wounded" 
both  days,  and  le  Censeur  about  250  killed  and 
wounded.  From  the  lightness  of  the  air  of  wind, 
the  fleets  were  a  very  long  time  in  passing  each 
other,  and  it  was  past  one  P.  M.  before  all  firing 
ceased ;  at  which  time  the  enemy  crowded  all 
possible  sail  to  the  westward,  our  ships  lying 
with  their  heads  to  the  south  east  and  east.  Our 
fleet  had  lOQO  guns,  and  ?650  men;  the  French 
had  1174  guns,  and  16,900  men." 


u  The  numbers  of  killed  and  wounded  in  our  Fleet  were,  ?3 
killed,  272  wounded  j  amongst  the  latter  were  Lieutenants  Rath- 
boneandMiles  j  and  the  Masters,  Wilson,  Blackburn;  and  Hawker. 


216 

In  writing  to  Captain  Locker  from  Porto  Es- 
pccia,  March  21,  thepeculiar  situation  in  which  Ad- 
miral Hotham  had  been  placed,  is  noticed  by  Nel- 
son with  his  usual  liberality.  ' '  You  will  have  heard 
of  our  brush  with  the  French  fleet,  a  battle  it  can- 
not be  called,  as  the  enemy  would  not  give  us  an 
opportunity  of  closing  with  them ;  if  they  had,  I 
have  no  doubt,  from  the  zeal  and  gallantry  that 
was  endeavoured  to  be  shewn  by  each  individual, 
we  should  have  obtained  a  most  glorious  conquest. 
Admiral  Hotham  has- had  much  to  contend  with: 
a  fleet  half  manned,  and  in  every  respect  inferior 
to  the  enemy:  Italy  calling  him  to  her  defence; 
our  newly  acquired  kingdom  (Corsica)  crying  out 
might  and  main ;  our  reinforcements  and  convoy 
hourly  expected ;  and  all  to  be  done  with  a  force 
by  no  means  adequate  to  these  services.  The 
French  were  sent  out  as  to  a  certain  conquest; 
their  Orders  were  positive.  To  search  out  our  fleet 
and  to  destroy  us,  of  which  they  had  no  doubt,  if 
we  presumed  to  come  to  action  with  them;  their 
troops  were  then  to  have  been  landed,  and  Cor- 
sica retaken.  However,  thank  God,  all  is  reversed. 
I  firmly  believe  they  never  would  have  fought  us, 
had  not  the  Ca  Ira  lost  her  top-masts,  which  en- 
abled Agamemnon  and  Inconstant  to  close  in  with 
her,  and  so  to  cut  her  up,  that  she  could  not  get 
a  top-mast  aloft  during  the  night,  which  caused 
our  little  brush  the  next  day.  Providence  in  a 
most  miraculous  manner  preserved  my  poor  brave 
fellows,  who  worked  the  ship  in  manoeuvring  about 


217 

the  Frenchman's  stern  and  quarters,  \vith  an  asto- 
nishing exactness  and  coolness.  The  action  never 
ceased  for  upwards  of  two  hours." 

Admiral  Hotham's  letter  to  the  Admiralty  has 
been  repeatedly  before  the  public,  it  was  dated 
the  16th  of  March,  and  was  published  in  the  Ga- 
zette on  the  16th  of  April.  After  a  general  com- 
mendation of  the  officers  in  his  squadron,  he  con- 
cluded with  saying,  <c  It  is  an  act  of  justice,  to 
express  the  sense  I  entertain  of  the  services  of 
Captain  J.  Holloway  of  the  Britannia.  During  a 
long  friendship  with  that  Officer,  I  have  had  re- 
peated proofs  of  his  personal  and  professional 
talents ;  and  on  this  recent  demand  for  experi- 
ence and  information,  his  zeal  afforded  me  the 
most  beneficial  and  satisfactory  assistance." 

(17.95.)  Captain  Nelson  was  disappointed  in  his 
sanguine  hopes  of  falling  in  with  some  of  the  ene- 
my's crippled  ships,  that  had  not  been  able  to  gain 
their  ports;  and  his  zealous  mind,  irritated  at  their 
escape,  thus  in  imagination  fought  the  late  action 
over  again,  with  the  command  vested  in  himself. 
1  Fiorenzo,  April  1."  I  am  absolutely,  my  dearest 
Fanny,  at  this  moment  in  the  horrors;  fearing, 
from  our  idling  here,  that  the  active  enemy  may 
send  out  two  or  three  sail  of  the  line,  and  some 
frigates,  to  intercept  our  convoy  which  is  momen- 
tarily expected.  In  short,  I  wish  to  be  an  Ad- 
miral, and  in  the  command  of  the  English  fleet. 

•  Viscountess  Nelson's  collection: 


218 

X 

I  should  very  soon  either  do  much,  or  be  ruined. 
My  disposition  cannot  bear  tame  and  slow  mea- 
sures     Sure  I  am,  had  I  commanded  our  fleet  on 
the  J4th,  that  either  the  whole  French  fleet  would 
have  graced  my  triumph,  or  I  should  have  been 
in  a  confounded  scrape. — I  went  on  board  Ad- 
miral Hotham  as  soon  as  our  firing  grew  slack  in 
the  van,  and  the  Ca  Ira  and  Censeur  had  struck, 
to  propose  to  him  leaving  our  two  crippled  ships, 
the  two  prizes,  and  four  frigates,  to  themselves, 
:and  to  pursue  the  enemy;  but  he,  much  cooler 
than  myself,  said,  *  We  must  be  contented,  we 
have  done  very  well.'     Now,  had  we  taken  ten 
sail  and  had  allowed  the  eleventh  to  escape,  when 
it  had  been  possible  to  have  got  at  her,   I  could 
never  have  called  it  well  done.     Goodall  backed 
me,   I  got  him  to  write  to  the  Admiral,  but  it 
would  not  do:  we  should  have  had  such  a  day, 
as  1  believe  the  annals  of  England  never  produced. 
I  v  erily  think  if  the  Admiral  can  get  hold  of  them 
once  more,  and  he  does  but  get  us  close  enough, 
that  we  shall  have  the  whole  fleet.     Nothing-  can 
stop  the  courage  of  English  Seamen. 

"  I  may  venture  to  tell  you,  but  as  a  secret, 
that  I  have  a  Mistress  given  to  me,  »o  less  a  per- 
sonage than  the  goddess  Bellona;  so  say  the 
French  verses  made  on  me,  and  in  them  I  am  so 
covered  with  laurels,  that  you  would  hardly  find 
my  sallow  face.  At  one  period  I  am  the  dear  Nel- 
son, the  amiable  Nelson,  the jiery  Nelson:  however 
nonsensical  these  expressions  are,  they  are  better 


219 

than  censure,  and  we  are  all  subject  and  open  to 
flattery.  The  French  Admiral  is  to  be  tried,  and 
some  of  the  Captains  are  under  arrest;  it  is  re- 
ported that  the  Captain  of  the  Sans  Culottes  has 
run  away.  The  Toulon ese  will  not  allow  the 
French  fleet  to  enter  their  port,  but  make  them 
remain  in  Hieres  Bay — telling  them,  'To  get  out 
and  execute  their  former  orders,  or  never  to 
enter  the  ports  of  the  republic.'  They  were  very 
much  alarmed  in  Corsica  at  the  appearance  of  the 
enemy's  fleet.  So  certain  were  the  French  of  de- 
feating us,  that  the  mayor  and  all  the  munici- 
pality of  Bastia  were  on  board  the  Sans  Culottes, 
to  resume  their  stations." 

With  his  accustomed  zeal  to  be  foremost  on  all 
occasions,  where  the  service  of  his  Country  re- 
quired great  exertion,  Captain  Nelson  on  the 
loth  of  April  wrote  to  Sir  Gilbert  Elliot,  the 
Viceroy  of  Corsica ;  that  if  an  attack  should  be 
made  on  that  island,  and  Admiral  Hotham  should 
judge  it  most  advisable  to  remain  at  anchor  iii 
the  defence  of  it,  and  no  other  person  should  be 
thought  of  as  preferable,  he  then  begged  leave  to 
offer  himself  for  the  command  of  such  Seamen,  as 
might  be  landed. 

On  the  24th  of  April  he  again  wrote  to  the 
Duke  of  Clarence,  dated  '  Agamemnon  at  sea, 
off  Cape  Corse.  Sir,  I  hope  and  believe,  if  we 
only  get  three  sail  from  England,  that  we  shall  . 
prevent  this  fleet  of  the  enemy  from  doing  fur- 
ther service  in  the  Mediterranean,  notwithstand- 


220 

ing  the  red  hot  shot  and  combustibles ;  of  which 
they  have  had  a  fair  trial,  and  found  them  use- 
less. They  believed  that  we  should  give  them  no 
quarter ;  and  it  was  with  some  difficulty  we  found 
the  combustibles,  which  are  fixed  in  a  skeleton 
like  a  carcass,  they  turn  into  liquid,  and  water 
will  not  extinguish  it.  They  say  the  Convention 
sent  them  from  Paris,  but  that  they  did  not  use 
any  of  them,  only  hot  shot." 

XIII.  The  following  letters  to  Mrs.  Nelson  give 
a  retrospective  detail  of  naval  operations  in  the 
Mediterranean  to  the  end  of  April.  "  St.  Fio- 
renzo,  April  12.  Rest  assured,  my  dear  Fanny, 
you  are  never  absent  from  my  thoughts. — If  the 
folks  will  give  me  the  Colonelcy  of  Marines,  I 
shall  be  satisfied;  but  I  fear  my  interest  is  not 
equal  to  get  it :  although  I  will  never  allow  that 
any  man  whatever  has  a  claim  superior  to  myself. 
We  have  just  got  the  thanks  of  the  Corsican 
Parliament  and  Viceroy,  for  our  gallant  and  good 
conduct  on  the  13th  and  14th  day  of  March; 
which  they  say,  and  truly,  has  saved  them  from 
an  invasion.  The  Viceroy's  private  letter  to  me 
has  a  very  flattering  compliment,  that  cannot  but 
be  pleasing  to  you,:  "  I  certainly  consider  the  busi- 
ness of  the  13th  of  March,  as  a  very  capital  fea- 
ture in  the  late  successful  contest  with  the  French 
fleet;  and  the  part  which  the  Agamemnon  had  in 
it,  must  be  felt  by  every  person  to  be  one  of  the 
circumstances  that  gave  lustre  to  this  event, 
and  rendered  it  not  only  useful,  but  peculiarly 


221 

honourable  to  the  British  arms.     I  need  not  as- 
sure you  of  the  pleasure  with  which  I  so  con- 
stantly see  your  name  foremost  in  every  thing 
that  is  creditable  and  serviceable;  nor  of  my 
sincere  regard  and  affection." — So  far  all  hands 
agree  in  giving  me  those  praises,   which  cannot 
but  be  comfortable  to  me  to  the  last  moment  of 
my  life.     The  time  of  my  being  left  out  here  by 
Lord  Hood,  I  may  call  well  spent ;  had  I  been, 
absent,  how  mortified  should  I  now  be.     What 
has  happened  may  never  happen  to  any  one  again  : 
that  only  one  ship  of  the  line  out  of  fourteen, 
should  get  into  action  with  the  French  fleet,  and 
for  so  long  a  time  as  two  hours  and  a  half,  and 
with  such  a  ship  as  the  Ca  Ira.     Had  1  been  sup- 
ported,   I   should    certainly  have    brought  the 
Sans  Culottes  to  battle,  a  most  glorious  prospect! 
A  brave  man  runs  no  more  risk  than  a  coward, 
and  Agamemnon    to    a    miracle    has    suffered 
scarcely  any  thing.     My  kindest  remembrances 
to  my  Father." 

When  writing  to  Captain  Locker  from  Leg- 
horn, May  4,  he  adds  "  I  flatter  myself,  if  the 
promotion  of  flags  comes  very  low,  I  shall  stand 
a  fair  chance  for  the  Marines,  if  services  in  this 
war  may  be  allowed  a  claim.  One  hundred  and 
ten  days  I  have  been  actually  engaged  at  sea, 
and  on  shore,  against  the  enemy.  Three  actions 
against  ships;  two  against  Bastia  in  my  ship; 
four  boat  actions;  and  two  villages  taken,  and 
twelve  sail  of  vessels  burnt.  I  do  not  know  that 


222 

any  one  has  done  more.  I  have  had  the  com- 
fort to  be  always  applauded  by  my  Commanders 
in  Chief,  but  never  to  be  rewarded;  and,  what  is 
more  mortifying,  for  service  in  which  I  have 
been  slightly  wounded,  others  have  been  praised 
who  at  the  time  were  actually  in  bed,  far  from 
the  scene  of  action.  But  we  shall,  I  hope,  talk 
my  opinion  of  men  and  measures  over  the  fire 
next  winter  at  Greenwich." 

(]795.)TheRev.  Edmund  Nelson  to  hisSon,  dated 
Bath,  May  5. — "  I  can  now,  my  dear  Horatio, 
address  you  in  the  language  of  our  University, 
Bene  et  optwiefecesti;  and  I  do  most  heartily  re- 
joice at  your  acquisition  of  a  fresh  never-fading 
laurel,  obtained  in  a  consciousness  of  having  dis- 
charged the  duties  of  your  station,  and  by  a  re- 
ligious sense  of  that  overruling  Providence,  who 
maketh  all  things  work  together  for  good  to  those 
who  love  Him.  It  is  said  with  confidence  that 
Lord  Hood  will  not  go  to  the  Mediterranean ; 
having  reached  St.  Helen's  he  is  returned  to  Spit- 
head.  This  is  the  news  of  the  day.  God  bless 
you.  Farewell." 

The  report  which  Mr.  Nelson  had  heard  re- 
specting Lord  Hood  was  correct.  This  expe- 
rienced veteran  had  remonstrated  with  the  Admi- 
ralty respecting  the  smallness  of  the  reinforce- 
ment, which  he  was  ordered  to  take  out  to  the 
Mediterranean,  feeling  it  his  duty  to  do  so,  in 
consequence  of  the  great  responsibility  an- 
nexed to  his  high  situation  in  the  service.  The 


223 

thanks  of  both  Houses  were  voted  on  the  10th, 
and  14th  of  April,  to  Admiral  Hotham,  and 
the  officers,  seamen,  and  marines,  under  his 
command.  On  the  8th  of  May  the  fleet  sailed 
from  Leghorn,  and  cruised  in  anxious  expecta- 
tion of  the  reinforcement  from  England. 

On  the  18th  of  June,  Nelson  wrote  as  follows 
to  Captain  Locker,  whilst  off  Minorca:  "  We  are 
now  waiting  here  for  the  convoy's  arrival  from 
Gibraltar,  and  as  the  wind  hangs  easterly,  it  may 
be  some  time  before  they  arrive.  The  French 
say,  they  will  fight  us  again,  provided  we  are  not 
more  than  two  or  three  ships  superior.  J  can 
hardly  believe  they  are  such  fools :  pray  God 
they  may.  There  is  nothing  but  squabbles  at 
Toulon:  one  party  is  in  possession  of  the  great 
fort  la  Malgue;  the  Jacobins,  of  the  arsenal  and 
town.  The  fleet  came  to  sea  for  two  days,  but 
is  gone  back,  and  has  joined  the  Jacobins.  The 
Austrrans  and  Piedmontese  are  only  waiting 
for  our  getting  to  the  eastward,  to  take  Vado 
Bay,  which  will  be  a  fine  anchorage  for  us.  We 
have  our  wants  and  our  wishes  in  the  fleet,  but 
upon  the  whole  we  are  much  more  comfortable 
than  the  home  fleet,  and  our  people  are  very 
healthy.  The  scurvy  is  not  known.  From  the 
little  I  have  seen  of  Mr/  Charnock's  book,"  I 

x  Mr.  Charnock,  who  is  lately  dead,  devoted  the  greater  part 
of  his  life  to  naval  literature;  and  amongst  other  works  published 
that,  to  which  Captain  Nelson  here  alludes,  in  five  volumes,  con- 
sisting of  Naval  Biography  from  1660  to  1793  j  and  also  a  con- 
cise life  of  Lord  Nelson. 


224 

think  it  a  good  thing,  it  will  perpetuate  the  name 
of  many  a  brave  officer,  whose  services  would 
otherwise  have  been  forgotten.'* 

(1795.)  Captain  Nelson  to  Mrs.  Nelson,  dated 
St.  Fiorenzo,  July  1 . — "  Our  convoy  having  joined 
us  on  the  22d,  we  made  sail  for  this  port,  and  ar- 
rived all  safe  on  the  29th,  so  far  we  are  fortunate. 
The  French  fleet  of  seventeen  sail  of  the  line  are 
out,  but  only  to  exercise  their  men,  at  least  our 
good  Admiral  says  so;  however  they  may  make 
a  dash,  and  pick  up  something.  We  have  Zea- 
lous, 74,  and  three  ordnance  ships  expected 
daily  from  Gibraltar.  I  hope  they  will  not  look 
out  for  them.  Two  French  frigates  were  for  ten 
days  very  near  us,  as  we  are  informed  by  neu- 
tral vessels.  I  requested  the  Admiral  to  let  me 
go  after  them;  but  he  would  not  part  with  a  ship 
of  the  line.  When  the  fleet  bore  away  for  this 
place  he  sent  two  small  frigates,  Dido  and  Lowes- 
toffe,  to  look  into  Toulon;  and  the  day  after 
they  parted  from  us,  they  fell  in  with  the  two 
frigates.  It  was  a  very  handsome  done  thing  in 
the  Captains,  who  are  Towry  and  Middleton,  and 
much  credit  must  be  due  to  these  officers,  and 
their  ships'  companies.  Thank  God,  the  superi- 
ority of  the  British  navy  remains,  and  I  hope 
ever  will:  I  feel  quite  delighted  at  the  event." 

This  was  one  of  the  most  gallant  engagements 
of  tjiat  period.  Admiral  Hotham's  official  letter 
to  the  Admiralty,  enclosing  one  from  the  senior 
officer,  Captain  Towry,  is  dated  June  30th.  The 


225 

late  Captain  Buckoll  was  first  Lieutenant  of  the 
Dido.  The  following  short  account  of  this  action 
was  sent  home  in  a  letter  by  the  late  Captain 
George  Clarke,  who,  as  first  Lieutenant  of  the 
Lowestoffe,  considerably  distinguished  himself. 
"  On  the  24th  of  June,  1795,  the  Dido,  a  little  eight 
and  twenty,  of  nine  pounders,  and  the  Lowe- 
stoffe, a  two  and  thirty,  of  twelve  pounders,  had 
to  contend  with  the  superior  force  of  La  Minerve, 
forty-two  eighteen  pounders,  and  L'Artemise,  of 
thirty-six  twelve  pounders ;  each  having  on  board 
350  men.  The  Dido  had  200,  the  Lowestoffe 
220.  Can  you  credit  our  having  gained  a  com- 
plete victory,  with  such  odds  against  us?  and 
further,  that  the  Lowestoffe  had  not  a  man  hurt. 
The  Dido  had  six  men  killed,  and  twenty-one 
wounded;  she  was  the  Commodore,  and  led  on; 
the  French  Commodore  ran  aboard  her,  in  con- 
sequence of  which  the  Dido's  mizen-mast  was 
carried  away;  and,  in  this  close  engagement, 
the  chief  part  of  the  men  above  mentioned  were 
killed  and  wounded.  At  this  juncture  the  Lowe- 
stoffe came  up,  and  raked  the  Frenchman ;  the 
Dido  still  at  him  on  the  lee-bow.  Away  went 
Minerve's fore-mast, bowsprit,  maintop-mast,  and 
mizen-mast.  The  other  fellow,  a  most  abomina- 
ble coward,  after  fighting  a  little,  sheered  off, 
and  the  Lowestoffe  made  after  him;  but,  owing 
to  superior  sailing,  he  unfortunately  got  away. 
In  the  mean  time,  the  Dido,  who  had  hauled  off 
to  repair  damages,  made  our  signal  to  return,  so 


226 

Lowestoflfe  tacked,  and  stood  again  towards  Mi- 
nerve;  when  we  favoured  her  so  plentifully  with 
shot,  that  she  ordered  the  national  flag  to  be 
struck,  what  three  hearty  cheers  we  gave!" 

The  little  public  notice, which  his  sanguine  mind 
imagined  had  been  taken  of  his  arduous  services 
at  the  sieges  of  Bastia  and  Calvi,  weighed  at  this 
time  considerably  on  his  thoughts.  That  addi- 
tional expense  which  voluntary  offers  to  serve  on 
shore  had  occasioned,  certainly  deserved  some 
remuneration:  during  four  months  of  hard  ser- 
vice in  that  hot  climate,  all  his  ship  furniture, 
owing  to  the  movements  of  a  camp,  was  totally 
lost.  Accordingly,  on  the  8th  of  April,  he  ad- 
dressed a  letter  to  the  Hon.  W.  Windham,  then 
Secretary  at  War,  in  which  Nelson  said,  "  I 
have  been  waiting  for  Lord  Hood's  arrival  in 
these  seas,  that  his  Lordship  might  have  sup- 
ported my  application  for  an  allowance,  which  I 
believe,  from  my  present  length  of  service  on 
shore,  will  be  considered  as  just."  After  reca- 
pitulating his  various  and  fatiguing  services  at 
the  sieges  of  Bastia  and  Calvi,  he  added,  "  I  trust 
I  do  not  ask  an  improper  thing,  when  I  request  that 
the  same  allowance  may  be  made  to  me,  as  would 
be  made  to  a  land  officer  of  my  rank ;  which, 
situated  as  I  was,  would  be  that  of  a  Brigadier 
General,  or  else,  my  additional  expences  paid  me. 
I  have  stated  my  case,  Sir,  plainly,  and  leave  it  to 
your  wisdom  to  act  in  it,  as  is  proper." — Not  to 
interrupt  thesubsequent  narrative,  Mr.  Windham's 


227 

answer  is  in  this  place  subjoined,  dated  War- 
Office,  the  21st  of  July,  1795.  "  Sir,  I  have  the 
honour  to  acknowledge  the  receipt  of  your  letter 
of  the  8th  of  last  month,  and  to  acquaint  you, 
That  no  pay  has  ever  been  issued  under  the  di- 
rection or  to  the  knowledge  of  this  office,  to 
officers  of  the  Xavy  serving  with  the  Army  on 
shore." 

The  zeal  and  patriotism  of  Nelson  were,  how- 
ever, in  the  meantime,  rewarded  by  a  particular 
mark  of  his  Sovereign's  approbation,  which  he 
had  long  hoped  for,  rather  than  expected.  This 
intelligence  was  immediately  conveyed  to  him 
by  his  Father,  who,  in  the  summer  of  the  pre- 
ceding year,  1794,  misled  by  the  reports  of  the 
day,  had  then  also  written  to  congratulate  his  sou 
on  the  same  event.  "  My  dear  Horatio,  I  have 
this  moment  (on  the  King's  birth-day)  received 
full  authority  to  say,  that  you  are  appointed  one 
of  the  Colonels  of  Marines,  vacated  by  the  pro- 
motion to  flags.  God  bless  you  with  all  the 
prosperity  this  pleasing  and  much  wished  for 
event  can  bring  with  it.  It  marks  your  public 
conduct  as  highly  honourable,  and  worthy  of  the 
notice  of  your  Country:  it  is  the  general  voice 
that  it  was  well  and  properly  given.  How  emi- 
nently does  such  a  situation  appear  above  what- 
ever is  obtained  by  interest  or  bribery.  Myself 
and  your  good  wife  are  full  of  joy,  and  we  often 
amuse  ourselves  in  fixing  on  the  cottage  re- 
tirement, which  you  are  looking  forward  to. 

u  2 


228 

Lord  Hood,  you  will  lind,  is  totally  retired;  yet 
I  verily  believe,  he  came  forward  as  your  friend 
in  this  business.  All  allow  him  judgment,  as  well 
as  long  experience  in  his  profession.  I  have 
'only  to  add,  that  so  affectionate  a  Son  merits  all 
that  a.kind  Father  can  bestow,  his  fervent  prayers 
that  God  may  long  preserve  him.  Farewell,  my 
dear  son.  Edmund  Nelson." 

Thispromotion  of  flag  officers  was  dated  June  the 
1st,  and  on  the  same  day  the  alteration  was  made 
known  in  the  Naval  Uniform,  which  now  distin- 
guishes the  rank  of  officers  by  epaulets,  and 
other  suitable  insignia.  Captain  Nelson's  ap- 
pointment to  the  Marines  was  announced  offici- 
ally on  the  6th  of  June,  but  his  commission  was 
dated  on  the  1st  of  that  month;  the  whole  being 
graciously  intended  by  his  Majesty,  to  give  ad- 
ditional honour  to  the  commemoration  of  Admiral 
Lord  Howe's  victory.  The  other  Captains  ap- 
pointed to  the  Marines  on  this  occasion,  were  the 
Hon.  Thomas  Pakenham,  and  the  Hon.  George 
Berkeley. 

XJV.  On  July  4th,  Admiral  Ilotham  informed 
the  Hon.  J.  Trevor  our  Minister  at  Turin,  that 
in  consequence  of  his  Excellency's  letter,  and  of 
a  subsequent  one  from  General  de  Vins  who 
commanded  the  Austrian  and  Sardinian  armies, 
to  Mr.  Brame  our  consul  at  G-enoa,  Captain 
Nelson  had  been  despatched  in  the  Agamemnon, 
with  a  Squadron  of  frigates,  being  an  officer  of 
approved  abilities,  that  he  might  give  every  pos- 


229 

sible  assistance  to  the  prosecution  of  that  Gene- 
ral's operations  against  the -enemy.  The  Admi- 
ral's despatches  to  the  Board,  contain  an  account 
of  the  unexpected  return  of  Nelson's  squadron, 
and  the  sudden  appearance  of  the  French  fleet. 

Admiral  Hot  ham  to  Evan  Ncpean,  Esq.  dated 
Britannia  at  Sea,  July  14,  1795.  "  Sir,  you  will 
be  pleased  to  inform  their  Lordships,  that  in 
consequence  of  General  de  Vins'  letter  of  the 
28th  to  Consul  Brame,  I  thought  it  advisable  to 
send  a  small  Squadron  of  ships,  as  early  as  possi- 
ble, to  give  countenance  to  the  General's  ope- 
rations, although  the  reports  as  to  his  success 
were  extremely  various;  and  for  that  purpose  I 
despatched  on  the  4th  instant  from  St.  Fiorenzo 
the  ships  named  in  the  margin, q  under  the  orders 
of  Captain  Nelson;  whom  I  directed  to  call  off 
Genoa  for  the  Inconstant  and  Southampton  fri- 
gates that  were  lying  there,  and  to  take  them 
with  him ;  if  from  the  intelligence  he  might  ob- 
tain, he  should  find  it  necessary. 

"  On  the  morning  of  the  7th,  I  was  surprised 
to  learn,  that  the  above  Squadron  was  seen  in 
the  offing,  returning  into  St.  Fiorenzo,  pursued 
by  the  enemy's  fleet;  which  by  General  de  Vins* 
letter,  the  latest  account  I  had  received,  I  had 
reason  to  suppose  was  certainly  in  Toulon.  Im- 
mediately, on  the  enemy's  appearance,  I  made 
every  preparation  to  put  to  sea  after  them ;  and 
notwithstanding  the  unpleasant  predicament  we 

s  Agamemnon,  Mi-lcvjgcr,  Ariadne,  Moselle,  and  Mutine  cutter, 


230 

were  in,  most  of  the  ships  being  in  the  midst  of 
watering  and  refitting,  I  was  yet  enabled,  by  the 
zeal  and  extraordinary  exertions  of  the  officers 
and  men,  to  get  the  whole  of  the  fleet  under 
weigh  that  night,  as  soon  as  the  land  wind  per- 
mitted us  to  move;  from  which  time  we  neither 
saw  nor  heard  any  thing  of  the  enemy  until  the 
12th:  when,  being  to  the  eastward,  and  within 
sight  of  the  Hieres  Islands,  two  vessels  were 
spoken  with  by  Captain  Hotham  of  the  Cyclops, 
and  Captain  Boys  of  la  Fleche,  who  acquainted 
them  that  they  had  seen  the  French  fleet  not 
many  hours  before,  to  the  southward  of  those 
islands.  Upon  which  information  1  made  the 
signal  before  night  to  prepare  for  battle,  as  an 
indication  to  our  fleet  that  the  enemy  was  near. 
Yesterday  at  daybreak  we  discovered  them  to 
the  leeward  of  us,  on  the  larboard  tack,  consist- 
ing of  twenty-three  sail,  seventeen  of  which 
proved  to  be  of  the  line:  the  wind  at  this  time 
blew  very  hard  from  the  W.  N.  W.  attended  with 
a  heavy  swell,  and  six  of  our  ships  had  to  bend 
main  top-sails,  in  the  room  of  those  that  were 
split  by  the  gale  in  the  course  of  the  night. 

"  I  caused  the  fleet,  however,  to  be  formed 
with  the  utmost  expedition  on  the  larboard  line 
of  bearing,  carrying  all  sail  possible  to  preserve 
that  order,  and  to  keep  the  wind  of  the  enemy; 
in  the  hopes  of  cutting  them  off  from  the  land, 
from  which  we  were  only  five  leagues  distant. 
At  eight  o'clock,  finding  they  had  no  other  view 


231 

but  that  of  endeavouring  to  get  from  us,  I  made 
the  signal  for  a  general  chace,  and  for  the  ships 
to  take  suitable  stations  for  their  mutual  support, 
and  to  engage  the  enemy,  as  arriving  up  with 
them  in  succession.  But  the  baffling  winds  and 
vexatious  calms,  that  render  every  naval  opera-* 
tron  in  this  country  doubtful,  soon  afterwards 
took  place,  and  allowed  a  few  only  of  our  van 
ships  to  get  up  with  the  enemy's  rear  about  noon ; 
which  they  attacked  so  warmly,  that  in  the 
course  of  an  hour  after,  we  had  the  satisfaction 
to  find  one  of  their  sternmost  ships,  viz.  TAlcide, 
of  74  guns,  had  struck.  The  rest  of  their  fleet, 
favoured  by  a  shift  of  wind  to  the  eastward,  that 
placed  them  now  to  windward  of  us,  had  got  so 
far  into  Frejus  Bay,  whilst  the  major  part  of  ours 
was  becalmed  in  the  offing,  that  it  became  im- 
possible for  any  thing  further  to  be  effected;  and 
those  of  our  ships  which  were  engaged  had  ap- 
proached so  near  the  shore,  that  I  judged  it  pro- 
per to  call  them  off  by  signal.' 

The  whole  of  this  letter  having  been  repeat- 
edly before  the  public,  it  is  only  iffcessary  to 
add,  that  1'Alcide  having  caught  fire  in  her  fore- 
top,  before  she  was  taken  possession  of,  blew  up 
with  a  most  awful  explosion;  and  although  the 
boats  of  the  fleet  were  immediately  despatched 
to  save  the  crew,  it  was  conjectured  that  between 
three  and  four  hundred  of  them  perished.  On 
board  our  different  ships  that  were  engaged,  ten 
were  killed,  and  twenty-four  wounded.  Captain 


232 

Nelson  in  a  *  letter  to  his  Royal  Highness  the 
Duke  of  Clarence,  dated  July  15,  1795,  gave  a 
further  description  of  what  had  passed. 

Captain  Nelson  to  Earl  Spencer. — * '  My  Lord  : 
I  have  seen  in  the  newspapers  that  I  am  made 
one  of  the  Colonels  of  Marines;  an  appointment 
certainly  most  flattering  to  me,  as  it  marks  to 
the  world  an  approbation  of  my  conduct.  To 
your  Lordship  I  beg  leave  to  express  my  grati- 
fication, more  especially,  as  by  a  letter  to  Lord 
Hood,  you  declared  your  intention  to  represent 
my  Services  in  the  most  favourable  point  of  view  to 
the  King;  for  which  I  beg  leave  to  return  my  most 
sincere  thanks.  In  the  same  letter  your  Lord- 
ship observed,  that  the  doubts  which  had  arisen, 
respecting  the  damage  my  eye  had  sustained  at 
the  siege  of  Calvi,  made  it  impossible  to'  say 
whether  it  was  such  as  amounted  to  the  loss  of 
a  limb.  I  have  only  to  tell  your  Lordship,  that 
a  privation  of  sight  for  every  common  occasion 
in  life,  is  the  consequence  of  the  loss  of  part  of 
the  crys^l  of  my  right  'eye.  As  I  mean  not 
to  press  on  your  Lordship  the  propriety  of  con- 
sidering my  loss,  I  shall  conclude  by  assuring 
you,  that  my  endeavours  shall  never  be  wanting 
to  merit  a  continuance  of  your  good  opinion, 
and  that  I  shall  ever  consider  myself  your  Lord- 
ship's most  obliged  humble-servant.  P.  S.  Being 
appointed  with  a  small  Squadron  of  frigates  t« 

*  4 to.  Edit.  Vol.  1.  Page  21 5. 


233 

cooperate  with  the  Austrian  General  Tie  Vins, 
I  cannot  allow  my  letter  to  go,  without  saying, 
that  General  de  Vins  appears  to  be  an  officer 
who  perfectly  knows  his  duty,  and  is  well  dis- 
posed to  act  with  vigour  on  every  proper  oc- 
casion. The  enemy  are  throwing  up  strong 
works  near  Albinga;  but  before 'three,  days  are 
past,  I  expect  the  army  will  be  to  the  westward 
of  them." 

Captain  Nelson  had,  however,  very  soon  rea- 
son to  change  his  opinion  of  this  General,  as  ap- 
pears by  subsequent  letters;  when  in  consequence 
of  his  inactivity  in  the  neighbourhood  of  Vaclo. 
the  zealous  commander  of  the  Agamemnon  waited 

on  him,  and  offered  to  embark  the  whole  or  any 

./ 

part  of  the  Austrian  army,  and  transport  it  to 
the  rear  of  the  French,  or  to  any  spot  to  the 
westward  of  their  army,  which  the  General  might 
think  most  advisable.  It  was  probably  in  conse- 
quence of  the  great  errors  which  Nelson  observed 
in  the  conduct  of  de  Vins,  and  the  advantages 

'  O 

which  the  former  perceived  any  army  would 
possess  in  harassing  an  enemy,  by  being  thus 
transported  from  one  situation  to  another,  that 
lie  afterwards  so  repeatedly  urged  the  neces- 
sity, of  having  a  considerable  number  of  empty 
transports  in  the  Mediterranean,  for  that  especial 
service. 

Anno        XV.  The  following  letter  to  Mr.  Drake, 
is  the  beginning  of  a  diplomatic  Corre- 
spondence   with    that   minister,    which    Nelson 


234 

continued  to  the  very  last.  Mr.  Drake  soon 
perceived  the  extraordinary  ability,  and  as  it 
were  intuitive  knowledge  of  the  politics  of 
Europe,  which  appeared  in  these  valuable  com- 
munications; and  in  consequence  was  one  of 
the  first  persons,  who  through  Lord  Grenviller 
recommended  Captain  Nelson  to  the  particular 
notice  of  government. 

(1795.)  Captain  Nelson  to  Mr.Drake.dated  Aga- 
memnon, Genoa  Mole,  July  18. — "From  the  con- 
versation, Sir,  which  1  had  the  honour  to  hold  with 
your  Excellency  yesterday  evening,  it  appeared 
to  you,  as  I  own  it  does  to  myself,  that  the  great 
use  of  the  cooperation  between  his  Majesty's 
squadron  under  my  command,  and  the  allied 
army  under  General  cle  Vins.  is  to  put  an  entire 
stop  to  all  trade  between  Genoa,  France,  and  the 
places  occupied  by  the  armies  of  France;  and 
unless  this  trade  is  stopped,  it  was  the  opinion 
of  your  Excellency,  that  it  would  be  almost  im- 
possible for  the  allied  army  to  hold  their  situation, 
and  much  less  possible  for  them  to  make  any 
progress  in  driving  the  French  out  of  the  Riviera 
of  Genoa.  By  the  paper  you  gave  me  to  read, 
it  also  appears,  that  probably  Nice  itself  might 
fall  for  want  of  a  supply  of  provisions,  forage, 
and  ammunition,  coming  from  Genoa. 

"I  have  the  honour  to  transmit  you  a  copy  of 
Admiral  Hotham's  orders  to  me,  on  my  coming 

'  A  Nobleman  to  whom  the  Nelson  family  feel  themselves 
particularly  indebted. 


235 

upon  this  service;  as  also,  a  copy  of  an  order 
dated  June  17th,  off  Minorca,  which,  from  the 
impossibility  of  being  complied  with  in  this  coun- 
try, amounts  to  a  prohibition  of  those  orders  that 
had  been  given  in  England.  I  have  therefore  to 
request,  that  your  Excellency  will  write  to  Ad- 
miral Hotham,  on  the  subject  of  the  absolute 
necessity  of  stopping  all  the  trade,  that  may  pass 
between  Genoa,  France,  and  the  places  that  are 
occupied  by  the  armies  of  France,  and  that  Vin- 
timigliamust  be  considered  as  under  that  descrip- 
tion; for  if  a  Genoese  vessel  may  pass  with  impu- 
nity to  that  place,  nothing  can  prevent  their 
going  to  Nice,  and  every  French  port  to  the 
westward  of  it. 

"However,  Sir,  so  sensible  am  I  of  the  neces- 
sity of  vigorous  measures,  that  if  your  Excellency 
will  assure  me  it  would  be  for  the  benefit  of  his 
Majesty's  service,  and  for  good  reasons,  that  I 
should  stop  all  trade  between  the  neutral  powers 
and  France,  and  the  places  occupied  by  the  armies 
of  France;  I  will  give  proper  directions  to  the 
squadron  under  my  command  for  that  purpose, 
and  the  vessels  and  their  cargoes  shall  lie  in  Vado 
Bay,  until  I  can  receive  my  Commander  in  chief's 
directions  about  them  ;  or,  if  your  Excellency 
thought  it  proper  to  send  an  express  to  England, 
until  that  answer  could  return. .  ." 

(1795.)  Captain  Nelson  to  Admiral  Hotham,  dated 
Agamemnon,  Vado  Bay,  July  22. — "  I  have  the 
honour  to  inform  you,  Sir,  that  I  arrived  at 


236 

Genoa  on  the  evening  of  the  17th,  and  found 
there  two  French  frigates,  la  Vestale  of  32  guns, 
la  Brune  of  26  guns,  and  two  bHgs,  the  Scout  and 
Alert.  I  sailed  with  Mr.  Drake  from  Genoa  at 
daylight  on  the  20th,  and  arrived  here  yesterday 
morning,  where  I  found  Mr.  Trevor  waiting  for 
Mr.  Drake.  I  have  had  a  conference  with  the 
Austrian  General  de  Vins,  who  seemed  extremely 
glad  to  see  us.  At  present  I  do  not  perceive  any 
immediate  prospect  of  their  getting  on  to  the 
westward,  it  appearing  to  be  the  General's  opi- 
nion, that  the  enemy  must  be  reduced  in  their 
provisions,  before  the  Austrians  can  make  ad- 
vances; and  that  for  the  present  famine  is  to  do 
more  than  the  sword.  You  will  see,  Sir,  by  my 
correspondence  with  Mr.  Drake,  the  necessity  I 
felt  myself  under  to  give  the  orders  of  which  I 
have  the  honour  to  enclose  you  a  copy,  together 
with  my  correspondence,  and  I  flatter  myself  you 
will  approve  what  I  have  done. 

"I  sail  this  evening  with  Mr.  Drake,  and  Mr. 

« 

Trevor,5  for  Genoa,  at  which  place  it  is  not  my 
present  intention  to  anchor,  but  to  return  here 
with  all  expedition.  The  Meleager,  Captain 
Cockburn,  brought  in  yesterday  a  valuable 
prize  :'  I  have  no  doubt  that  her  cargo  is  French 
property;  the  gold,  silver,  and  jewels,  which 
were  found  in  the  cabin,  are  on  board  the  Aga- 
memnon, but  things  of  much  more  consequence, 

8  His  Majesty's  Minister  at  Turin. 
1  Called  Nostxa  Signora  de  Belvedere. 


23? 

1  understand,  are  in  the  hold;  indeed  I  cannot 
guess  at  the  value"  of  the  cargo.  In  respect  to 
Vado  Bay,  had  it  not  been  called  a  Bay,  I  should 
never  have  named  it  one;  it  is  a  bend  in  the 
land,  and  since  I  have  been  here  by  no  means 
good  landing.  The  water  is  deep,  good  clay 
bottom,  and  plenty  of  fresh  water;  open  from  E. 
to  S.  To  the  east  the  land  is  at  a  great  distance; 
but  I  think  a  fleet  may  ride  1iere  for  a  short  time 
in  the  summer  months." 

(1795.)  On  the  24th  of  July,  Captain  Nelson 
thus  expressed  himself  without  reserve,  in  a 
letter  from  off  Vado  Bay  to  his  wife.  "  What 
changes  in  my  life  of  activity!  Here  I  am,  hav- 
ing commenced  a  cooperation  with  an  old  Aus- 
trian General,  almost  fancying  myself  charging 
at  the  head  of  a  troop  of  horse.  Nothing  will 
be  wanting  on  my  part  towards  the  success  of 
the  common  cause.  I  have  eight  sail  of  frigates 
tinder  my  command ;  the  service  I  have  to  per- 
form is  important,  and,  as  I  informed  you  a  few 
days  ago  from  Genoa,  I  am  acting  not  only 
without  the  orders  of  my  Commander  in  chief, 
but  in  some  measure  contrary  to  them.  How- 
ever, I  have  not  only  the  support  of  his  Majesty's 
Ministers,  both  at  Turin  and  Genoa,  but  a  con- 
sciousness that  I  am  doing  what  is  right  and 
proper  for  the  service  of  our  King  and  Country: 

"In  another  letter  he  stated,  that  report  had  valued  her  at 
100,0007.  when  she  left  France. 


238 

political  courage  in  an  officer  abroad  is  as  highly 
necessary  as  military  courage.  To  you  I  may 
add,  that  my  Character  stands  high  with  almost, 
ail  Europe,  even  the  Austrians  knew  my  name 
perfectly.  When  I  get  through  this  Campaign, 
I  think  myself  I  ought  to  rest.  I  hope  to  God 
the  war  will  be  over,  and  that  I  may  return  to 
you  in  peace  and  quietness.  A  little  farm  and 
my  good  name,  form  all  my  wants  and  wishes." 
Amongst  the  Squadron  of  frigates,  which  Cap- 
tain Nelson  mentions  in  the  above  letter  as  being; 

^j 

under  his  command,  was  the  Inconstant,  Captain 
T.  F.  Fremantle,  an  officer  particularly  esteemed 
by  Nelson,  and  who  afterwards  became  associated 
with  him  in  the  greater  part  of  his  subsequent 
achievements. 

(1795.)  Onthe24th  of  July,  on  having  landed 
Mr.  Drake  and  Mr.  Trevor  at  Genoa,  the  Aga- 
memnon kept  throughout  the  whole  night  to- 
wards Vado  Bay;  and  the  next  morning  was 
driven  by  a  very  heavy  gale  from  the  S.  W.  into 
Leghorn  Roads.  In  writing  to  Admiral  Hotham 
on  the  98th,  he  said,  "  There  are  several  vessels 
here  laden  with  corn  for  France,  some  of  them 
under  passports  from  the  Dey  of  Algiers;  how- 
ever they  must  be  stopped,  if  met  with  by  the 
squadron  under  my  orders,  and  the  Ministers 
of  Genoa,  and  Turin,  would  be  solely  answerable 
for  what  may  be  the  result.  But,  Sir,  the  whole 
of  the  necessity  of  stopping  all  the  vessels,  is 
comprised  in  a  very  few  words,  that  if  we  do  not 


239 

stop  supplies  of  corn,  &c.  going  to  France,  the 
armies  will  return  whence  they  came;  and  the 
'failure  of  this  Campaign,  from  which  30  much  is 
expected,  will  be  attributed  to  our  want  of 
energy:  for  the  only  use  of  the  naval  cooperation 
is  in  preventing  any  supply  of  provisions.  But 
I  pray  God  the  war  may  be  finished." 

Thus  did  the  discerning  mind  of  Nelson,  from 
that  patriotic  impulse  which  it  invariably  pos- 
sessed, venture  to  point  out  the  insufficiency  of 
the  orders  he  had  received,  and  to  open  the  eyes 
of  his  government  to  those  injuries  which  the 
general  cause  sustained  by  the  frauds  of  neutral 
vessels.  It  appears  to  have  been  his  opinion, 
that  had  Lord  Hood  remained  in  the  Mediter- 
ranean, a  favourable  opportunity  then  offered 
to  have  regained  Toulon;  for  in  a  letter  to  his 
wife,  dated  Vado  Ray,  August  Qd,  after  mentioning 
that  idea,  he  added,  "  At  the  time  we  got  pos- 
session of  it  before,  the  royalists  were  by  no 
means  so  strong  at  Toulon  as  they  are  at  this 
moment." — The  subsequent  part  of  this  letter 
relates  to  his  private  character,  and  displays  that 
uniform  filial  affection,  which  must  have  drawn 
down  a  blessing  on  all  his  undertakings :  "  1 
have  been  very  negligent,  Fanny,  in  writing  to 
my  Father;  but,  I  rest  assured,  he  knows  I  would 
have  done  it  long  ago  had  you  not  been  under 
the  same  roof.  At  present  I  do  not  write  less 
than  from  ten  to  twenty  letters  every  day;  which 
with  the  Austrian  General  and  aid  de  camps,  and 


240 

my  own-  little  squadron,  fully  employ  my  time: 
this  I  like,  active  service,  or  none.  Pray  draw 
for  200 /.  my  Father  and  myself  can  settle  our 
accounts  when  we  meet;  at  present,  I  believe, 
I  am  the  richer  man,  therefore  1  desire  you  will 
give  my  dear  Father  that  money." 

(1795.)  On  the  same  day,  Aug. 2,  he  detached  the 
Meleager,  Captain  G.  Cockburn,*  and  the  South- 
ampton, off  Cape  del  Mele,  in  order  to  ascertain, 
whether,  according  to  information  received  from 
the  General,  vessels  laden  with  corn  did  not 
clear  out  for  Barcelona,  although  actually  bound 
for  Marseilles :  should  it  appear  that  they  were 
actually  bound  for  Spain,  Captain  Cockburn  was 
directed  to  send  them  into  Vado  Bay,  that  they 
might  be  provided  with  convoy;  the  French 
squadron  being  hourly  expected  from  Genoa. — 
In  a  letter  to  Mr.  Drake  on  the  6th,  he  described 
the  manner  in  which  his  Cruisers  had  been  sta- 
tioned, and  marked  the  difference  with  which 
the  English  and  French  squadrons  had  regarded 
the  neutrality  of  Genoa.  "  The  disposition  and 

x  This  excellent  officer,  and  intimate  friend  of  Nelson,  had 
sailed  from  England  at  the  beginning  of  the  French  war,  as 
Lieutenant  in  the  Britannia,  and  was  removed  into  the  Victory 
on  the  first  vacancy  that  took  place  in  that  ship.  He  was  made 
Captain  of  the  Speedy  sloop  in  October,  1/93,  by  Lord  Hood, 
and  was  by  his  Lordship  appointed  acting  Captain  of  the  Incon- 
stant in  January,  17Q4,  and  Captain  of  the  Meleager,  in  thr. 
following  month,  which  was  confirmed  by  (he  Admiralty.  He 
lately  commanded  the  Pompce  in  the  West  Indies. 


241 

acts  of  my  cruisers  will  soon  prove  incontestibly 
that  Genoa  is  riot  blockaded,  as  all  vessels  will 
arrive  in  perfect  security  which  are  not  French, 
or  laden  with  French  property.  Cruisers  ofY 
Cape  Corse,  or  the  straits  of  Bonifaccio,  would 
not  stop  the  trade  so  well  as  where  I  have  placed 
them ;  were  I  to  remove  those  ships  on  the 
Especia  side  of  the  gulf,  nothing  could  prevent 
the  escape  of  the  French  Squadron,  and  any 
convoy  they  might  choose  to  carry  with  them. 
It  ever  has  fc>een  customary  to  endeavour  to 
intercept  enemy's  vessels  coming  from  neutral 
ports,  and  the  cruisers  off  Port  Especia  are  very 
little  nearer  Genoa  than  Leghorn,  and  are  at 
the  utmost  extremity  of  the  Genoese  territory; 
for  I  have  been  most  careful  to  give  no  offence 
to  the  Genoese  territory,  or  flag.  I  am  almost 
blind,  and  it  is  with  very  great  pain  I  write  this 
letter." 

(1795. )  Sir  Gilbert  Elliot,  Viceroy  of  Corsica,  to 
Captain  Nelson,  August  7. — "  Give  me  leave  my 
dear  Sir,  to  congratulate  you,  on  the  Agamem- 
non's supporting  uniformly,  on  every  occasion, 
the  same  reputation  which  has  always  distin- 
guished that  ship  since  I  have  been  in  the  Medi- 
terranean. I  know  that  it  was  not  Agamemnon's 
fault,  if  more  was  not  done  on  the  late  cruise. 
It  gives  me  great  pleasure  also  to  see  you  em- 
ployed in  your  present  important  service,  which 
requires  zeal,  activity,  and  a  spirit  of  accommo- 
dation and  cooperation,  qualities  which  will  not 

R 


242 

be  wanting  in  the  commodore  of  your  squadron, 
I  consider  the  business  you  are  about,  the  expul- 
sion of  the  enemy  from  the  Genoese  and  Pied- 
montese  territories,  as  the  most  important  feature 
in  the  Southern  Campaign.  I  am  lately  returned 
from  a  six  weeks  tour  through  the  Island,  which 
afforded  me  the  highest  satisfaction,  both  from 
the  improvable  nature  of  the  country,  and  from 
the  general  spirit  of  loyalty  and  attachment  to 
the  King's  country,  which  manifested  itself 
wherever  I  went.  I  may  tell  you  in  confidence, 
that  Paoli  has  been  endeavouring  to  stir  up  mis- 
chief, during  my  absence,  in  this  part  of  th« 
Island  ;  and  by  lies,  and  inventions,  some  disturb- 
ance  has  been  created  in  the  districts  adjoining 
to  his  own  residence.  But  by  perfect  firmness 
and  proper  temper,  these  attempts  to  disturb  us 
are  sure  of  ending  in  the  disgrace  of  their  au- 
thors, as  in  truth  this  one  has  already  nearly  done. 
It  seems  that  Paoli  is  not  great  enough  to 
reconcile  himself  to  the  station  of  a  private  man, 
and  that  he  still  hankers  after  the  Crown  which 
he  gave  to  the  King,  at  a  time,  indeed,  when  he 
could  no  longer  keep  it  for  himself." 

Captain  Nelson,  in  his  answer  from  Vado  Bay, 
on  the  18th,  said,  "If  my  health  and  eyes,  my 
dear  Sir,  which  are  now  almost  worn  out,  can 
allow,  I  will  endeavour  to  tell  you  what  occur- 
rences have  taken  place.  Corsica  is  never  from 
my  thoughts.  I  have  received  letters  from  good 
Lord  Hood:  However  wrong  he  might  have 


243 

been  in  writing  so  strongly,  and  as  he  allows  be 
has,  to  the  Admiralty,  the  Nation  has  suffered 
much  by  his  not  returning  to  the  Mediterranean; 
for  an  abler  head,  or  heart  .more  devoted  to  the 
service  of  his  country,  is  not  readily  to  be  met 
with  :  and  when  I  think  what  Lord  Bridport  did 
under  Port  L'()rient,h  on  the  23d  of  June  last,  I 
cannot  but  sigh. 

"  Respecting  our  movements  here,  they  are 
very  slow.  General  de  Vins  has  been  long 
expected,  but  I  fear  in  vain.  He  says,  he  has 
flattered  and  abused  the  Piedmontese  and  Neapo- 
litans, yet  nothing  will  induce  them  to  act.  A 
plan  is  now  concerted  between  the  General  and 
myself,  to  embark,  if  these  people  will  not  act, 
five  or  six  thousand  men,  and  to  make  a  landing 
between  St.  Remo,  and  Vintimiglia.  . .  I  am  truly 
concerned  that  Paoli  should  be  troublesome;  I 
had  heard  it,  but  could  not  give  credit  to  such 
an  apparent  absurd  conduct  on  his  part.  I  fully 
trust,  and  believe,  that  your  Excellency's  mild 
and  equitable  administration  will  leave  the  good 
Corsicans  little  to  hope,  or  fear,  from  Paoli  and 
his  adherents.  Poor  Agamemnon  is  as  nearly 
Avorn  out  as  her  Captain,  we  must  both  soon  be 
laid  up  to  repair.  The  Marines  has  been  given 
to  me  in  the  handsomest  manner:  the  answer 

*  A  most  gallant  action  lhat  was  never  properly  noticed  by 
his  Country.  LeTigre,  SO  guns,  Le  Formidable,  and  L' Alexandra, 
74  guns  each,  were  taken. 

R   2 


244 

returned  to  many  was,  The  King  knows  of  no  officer 
who  has  a  better  claim  than  CaptainNelson" 

(17Q5.)  When  writing  to  Captain  Locker, 
from  Vaclo  Bay,  on  the  19th  of  August,  he  again 
referred  to  Lord  Bridport's  gallant  action:  "I 
hope  Lord  Bridport's  success,  and  the  appearance 
of  the  emigrants  landed  in  Brittany,  \rill  bring 
this  war  to  a  happy  conclusion.  My  command 
here  of  thirteen  sail  of  frigates  and  sloops  is  not 
altogether  unpleasant.  As  I  had  been  so  much 
in  the  habit  of  soldiering  this  war,  the  moment 
it  became  known  that  the  Austrian  army  was 
coming,  it  was  fixed  thai  the  Brigadier  must  go. 
Hitherto  I  have  succeeded  in  all  my  attempts, 
and  I  trust  I  shall  not  fail  in  our  present  under- 
taking. Nothing  shall  be  wanting  on  our  part, 
as  far  as  my  force  goes.  The  Mediterranean 
command  includes  such  a  variety  of  duty,  when 
compared  to  any  other  station,  that  it  requires 
a  man  of  business."1 

T-he  Treaty  which  the  French  had  concluded 
with  Spain,  was  dated  July  22,  179o,  in  which 
the  Republic  of  the  United  Provinces,  as  being 
the  allies  of  France,  were  included :  she  also 
detached  Tuscany,  and  Prussia,  and,  soon  after 

1  An  extensive  correspondence  with  foreign  "states,  and  the 
peculiar  situation  of  Italy  at  that  period,  rendered  the  command 
in  the  Mediterranean  more  adapted  to  an  experienced  diplomatic, 
officer,  than  to  a  skilful  and  brave  Seaman,  which  Admiral  Hotharu 
bad  shewn  himself  to  bo  in  a  variety  of  instances. 


245 

the  above  date,  the  Landgrave  of  Hesse- Cassel, 
from  their  alliance  with  Great  Britain. 

On  the  26th  of  August,  1795,  the  active  mind 
of  Nelson  was  directed  against  some  vessels  of 
the  enemy,  in  the  bay  of  Alassio  and  Languelia, 
at  that  time  in  possession  of  the  French  army, 
and  serving  as  their  principal  rendezvous  for 
transports  and  store  ships.  There  was  but  a 
very  feeble  resistance  from  some  of  the  enemy's 
cavalry,  who  fired  on  our  boats  when  boarding 
the  vessels  near  the  shore;  "  but,  "added  Captain 
Nelson  in  writing  to  Admiral  Hotham,  "  I  have 
the  pleasure  to  say  no  man  was  killed  or 
wounded.  The  enemy  had  2000  horse  and  foot 
soldiers  in  the  town,  which  prevented  my  landing 
and  destroying  their  magazines  of  provisions  and 
ammunition.  I  sent  Captain  Fremantle  of  the 
Inconstant,  with  the  Tartar,  to  Languelia,  a  town 
on  the  western  side  of  the  bay  of  Alassio,  where 
he  executed  my  orders  in  a  most  officer-like 
manner;  and  I  am  indebted  to  every  Captain 
and  officer  in  the  squadron  for  their  activity; 
but  most  particularly  so  to  Lieutenant  George 
Andrews,  first  lieutenant  of  •the  Agamemnon, 
who,  by  his  spirited  and  officer-like  conduct, 
saved  the  French  corvette  from  going  on  shore." 
—Admiral  Hotham,  in  addition  to  the  thanks 
which  he  conveyed  to  Captain  Nelson  and  his 
officers,  on  Sept.  1,  subjoined  the  following  libe- 
ral commendation  of  the  former,  when  he  sent 
his  despatches  to  the  Admiralty,  "His  officer- 


•      246 

like  conduct  upon  this,  and,  indeed,  upon  every  occa- 
sion where  his  services  are  called  forth,  reflects  upon 
him  the  highest  credit." 

This  enterprise  was  soon  succeeded  by  another 
during  the  night  of  August  29,  under  the  con- 
duct of  Lieutenants  G.  Andrews  and  Spicer, 
which  did  not  terminate  quite  so  successfully. 
Jt  is  detailed  in  the  following  official  account 
that  was  sent  to  Admiral  Hotham,  dated  Vado 
Bay,  August  30,  1795.  "  Sir:  Having  received 
information  that  a  ship  laden  with  provisions  was 
arrived  at  Oneglia,  I  yesterday  afternoon  man- 
Tied  the  two  small  gallies.  taken  on  the  26th,  with 
forty-four  officers  and  men  from  the  Agamemnon, 
and  ten  men  belonging  to  the  Southampton, 
under  the  command  of  Lieutenant  George  An- 
drews, and  Lieutenant  Peter  Spicer  of  the  Aga- 
memnon; and  ordered  Lieutenant  Andrews  to 
proceed  to  Oneglia,  and  to  endeavour  *to  take 
the  said  ship.  On  his  passage  doMrn,  about  nine 
o'clock  at  night,  he  fell  in  with  three  large  ves- 
sels with  lateen  sails,  which  he  engaged  at  ten 

'  O      O 

o'clock.  One  of  these  was  carried  by  boarding, 
but  the  men  belonging  to  her,  retiring  to  the 
others,  cut  her  adrift,  the  three  vessels  being 
made  fast  together.  At  half  past  ten  the  attack 
on  the  other  two  was  renewed  with  the  greatest 
spirit;  but  the  number  of  men  on  board  was  too 
great,  united  with  the  height  of  their  vessels, 
for  our  force;  and  my  gallant  officers  and  men, 
after  a  long  contest,  were  obliged  to  retreat.  It 


247 

is  with  the  greatest  pain  I  have  to  render  so  long 
a  list  of  killed  and  wounded.  The  spirited  and 
officer-like  conduct  of  Lieutenants  Andrews  and 
Spicer,  I  cannot  sufficiently  applaud  ;z  and  every 
praise  is  due  to  each  individual  for  their  exem- 
plary bravery  and  good  conduct.  The  vessels 
had  no  colours  hoisted,  hut  a  Greek  flag  has 
been  found  on  board  the  prize," 

(179,5.)  On  the  first  of  September,  he  sent  from 
Vado  Bay  the  following  account  of  what  had 
passed,  with  some  additional  information,  to  Mrs. 
Nelson: — "We  have  made  a  small  Expedition 
with  the  squadron,  and  taken  a  French  corvette 
and  some  other  vessels,  in  which  affair  I  lost  no 
men;  but  since,  I  have  not  been  so  successful. 
I  detached  Mr.  Andrews  to  cut  off  a  ship  from 
Oneglia :  On  his  passage,  he  fell  in  with  three 
Turkish  vessels,  as  it  has  since  turned  out,  who 
killed  and  wounded  17  of  my  poor  fellows. 
Seven  are  already  dead,  and  more  must  be  lost 
by  the  badness  of  their  wounds;  and  I  am  sorry 
to  add,  that  the  Turks  got  into  Genoa,  with  six 
millions  of  hard  cash:  however,  they  who  play  at 
bowls  must  expect  rubbers,  and  the  worse  success 
now,  the  better,  I  hope,  another  time.  Our  fleet 
is  still  at  Leghorn.  Collingwood  I  hear  is  arrived 
in  the  Excellent,  74-,  with  the  convoy  from  Eng- 
land. I  am  almost  afraid,  that  the  Campaign  in 
this  country  will  end  in  a  very  different  manner 

z  These  Lieutenants  particularly  distinguished  themselves. 


248 

from  what  might  have  been  expected ;  but  I  will 
do  my  best  until  it  finishes." 

On  Sept.  15,  1795,  whilst  in  Vado  Bay,  he  sent 
to  Mrs.  Nelson  his  real  sentiments  on  the  pro- 
ceedings of  the  Austrian  army.  "  I  am  not, 
Fanny,  quite  so  well  pleased  as  I  expected  with 
this  Army,  which  is  slow  beyond  all  description  ; 
and  I  begin  to  think,  that  the  Emperor  is  anxious 
to  touch  another  four  millions  of  English  money. 
As  for  the  German  Generals,  war  is  their  trade, 
and  peace  is  ruin  to  them;  therefore  we  cannot 
expect  that  they  should  have  any  wish  to  finish 
the  war.  I  have  just  made  some  propositions  to 
the  Austrian  General  to  spur  him  on,  which  I 
believe  he  would  have  been  full  as  M;ell  pleased 
had  I  omitted:  in  short,  I  can  hardly  think  he 
means  to  go  any  farther  this  winter.  I  am  now 
under  sail  on  my  way  to  Genoa,  to  consult  with 
our  minister  on  the  inactivity  of  the  Austrians; 
and  he  must  take  some  "step  to  urge  these  people 
forward." 

(1795.)  The 'following  letter  to  Mr.  Drake, 
Sept.  18,  was  written  in  consequence  of  a  com- 
,plaint  from  the  Genoese  Government  to  that 
minister.  Captain  Nelson,  with  his' usual  firm- 
ness and  judgment,  maintains  the  rights  of 
British  ships  of  war  in  entering  Neutral  Ports. 
<e  The  occasion  of  the  Inconstant  being  fired 
upon,  as  reported  to  the  officer  commanding  the 
Agamemnon  in  my  absence  by  the  Captain  of 
the  port,  is  as  follows.  \Vhen  I  came  in,  I  was 


249 


told  that  no  other  ship  of  war  could  enter 
port;  to  which  I  replied,  None  other  was  coming 
in.  The  first  <run  fired  on  the  Inconstant  was 
only  loaded  with  powder;  hut  as  she  still  ad- 
vanced, the  other  was  rired  with  shot  ahead  of  her; 
when  a  request  was  sent,  that  I  would  make  a  sig- 
nal for  the  ships  not  to  enter  the  port.  The  Incon- 
stant wanted  to  have  communication  with  me, 
therefore  stood  round  the  Agamemnon  :  this  can. 
hardly  be  called  coming  into  port,  at  least  we 
do  not  understand  it  so.  These  are  the  facts  as 
stated  to  me,  and  1  should  like  to  know  one 
thing,  on  which  must  hinge  the  propriety  or 
impropriety  of  the  conduct  of  the  Republic. 
r^ould  not  the  Republic,  in  any  situation  of  danger 
whatever,  admit  mere  than  jive  ships  inside  the  mole 
heads?  if  they  answer  No,  I  have  but  little  to 
say:  but  if  they  answer  Yes;  how  could  they  tell, 
that  the  Inconstant  was  not  obliged  from  some 
cause  or  other  to  make  for  a  port?  No  inquiries 
were  made;  and  the  first  notice  was  a  shot,  to 
say,  Whatever  may  be  your  distress,  you  shall  not 
enter  here,  nor  find  protection  in  Genoa  Mole. 
Much  more  might  be  added,  but  I  am  sure,  Sir, 
you  will  do  what  is  right.  If  I  were  to  give 
chase  to  a  French  ship  of  war,  and  she  went  into 
Genoa  Mole  at  a  time  when  there  were  more 
than  five  ships  in  the  mole,  and  they  did  not 
fire  and  turn  her  out,  I  would  instantly  attack 
her  on  their  own  reasoning,  Wz  will  protect  five, 
and  no  more." 


In  a  letter  to  Sir  Gilbert  Elliot1  about  tbe 
same  time,  he  added,  "If  the  Admiral  could 
give  me  one  74,  I  verily  believe  we  should  even 
yet  gain  possession  of  Nice.  Mr  Drake  perhaps 
has  told  you  how  we  were  obliged  to  manoeuvre 
about  the  General:  but  the  politics  of  Courts, 
my  dear  Sir,  are  I  perceive  so  mean,  that  private 
people  would  be  ashamed  to  act  in  the  same  way; 
all  is  trick  and  finesse  to  which  the  Common 
Cause  is  sacrificed.  The  General  wants  a  loop- 
hole, and  I  hope  he  will  not  have  one;  he  shall 
not  if  I  can  help  it,  for  I  want  Ville  Tranche  for 
a  good  anchorage  this  winter.  From  what  mo- 
tive I  know  not,  I  hope  from  a  good  one,  but 
the  General  sent  orders  to  attack  the  enemy's 
strongest  post,  St.  Espirito,  and  after  an  attack 
of  ten  hours  it  was  carried.  The  General  seems 
pleased,  and  says  if  he  can  carry  another,  the 
Enemy  must  retire,  which  would  give  ois  the 
country  as  far  as  Oneglia;  Then  comes  a  fresh 
objection,  which  I  am  preparing  against.  He 
will  say,  "I  cannot  hold  an  extent  of  sea  coast 
of  forty  miles :  I  must  give  up  Vado,  for  the 
enemy  at  Oneglia  are  on  my  left  flank,  and  the 
Piedmontese  will  not  attack  them." — Time  and 
opportunity  however  may  do  much.  Mr.  Drake 
has  just  received  his  appointment  to  land  at  the 
head  quarters  of  the  Austrian  army,  and  I  rejoice 
3t  it.  The  loss  of  the  Austrians  in  the  last  attack, 

*  Lord  Minto's  Collection. 


251 

was  one  thousand  killed  and  wounded.  It  gives 
me  pain  to  hear  such  bad  accounts  of  the  beha- 
viour of  many  of  the  Corsicans;  what  they  can 
be  at,  is  impossible  for  me  to  guess,  unless  French 
gold  has  found  its  way  amongst  some  of  their 
chiefs.  But  I  hope  they  will  yet  be  quiet,  and  be 
no  longer  troublesome  to  your  administration, 
which  has  done  so  much  for  them." 

Otithe'Q]st,  he  wrote  to  his  father  and  Mrs. 
Nelson,  and  thus  frankly  stated  his  opinion  re- 
specting the  co-operation  of  the  Austrians.  "I 
have  been,  in  concert  with  his  Majesty's  minis- 
ter, very  hard  at  work  in  pushing  the  Austrian 
General  forward ;  and  yesterday  morning  got 
them  to  make  an  attack,  that  has  been  success- 
ful, and  they  have  carried  the  centre  post,  on 
the  ridge  of  mountains  occupied  by  the  French 
troops.  The  action  lasted  ten  hours,  and  if  the 
General  will  carry  one  other  point,  we  shall  gain 
thirty- three  miles  of  country.  Another  plan  is 
in  agitation;  which,  if  the  Admiral  will  give  me 
transports  to  carry  a  certain  number  of  troops, 
will  astonish  the  French,  and  perhaps  the  Eng- 
lish. Jhe  General,  if  he  can  be  brought  to 
move,  is  an  Officer  of  great  abilities;  but  the 
politics  of  his  Court  so  constantly  tie  his  hands, 
that  he  cannot  always  do  what  he  thinks  proper. 
However,  if  the  Army  does  not  move,  our  mi- 
nister who  is  fixed  at  head  quarters,  will  endea- 
vour to  withhold  the  remainder  of  the  Emperor's 
Joan,  say  gift:  this  is  an  all-powerful  motive 


252 

with  a  German  court,  and  for  which  the  lives 
of  their  subjects  are  -held  in  no  estimation.  I 
am  become  a  politician,  almost  fit  to  enter  the 
diplomatic  line.  Sept.  24.  I  am' just  arrived  at 
Leghorn;  and  have  received  a  most  honourable 
testimony  of  my  conduct,  which  has  been  trans- 
mitted from  the  Austrian  General  to  our  minis- 
ter. It  has  not  indeed  been  in  my  power  to 
perform  much,  but  I  have  done  all  I  could  to 
serve  the  Cause." 

The  preceding  opinion  which  he  had  ex- 
pressed, respecting  the  conduct  of  the  Aus- 
trians,  was  confirmed  by  Mr.  Drake,  in  a  letter 
to  Admiral  Motham,  Sept.  22,  1795;  and  that 
minister  at  the  same  time  mentioned  the  high 
estimation  whieh  de  Vins  and  the  Austrian 
Gciierals  entertained  of  the  abilities  of  the  Cap- 
tain of  the  Agamemnon.  "Understanding  that 
Captain  Nelson  has  already  informed  your  Ex- 
cellency of  every  thing  which  has  passed  of  late 
between  him,  General  de  Vins,  and  myself,  I 
forbear  troubling  you  with  a  repetition  of  those 
circumstances.  I  confess,  that  I  do  not  believe 
General  de  Vins  is  seriously  inclined  to  under- 
take the  expedition  in  question;  but  your  Ex- 
cellency may  nevertheless  think  it  necessary  to 
act  precisely,  as  if  there  were  no  doubt  of  the 
sincerity  of  the  General's  professions.  What- 
ever may  be  the  event,  we  certainly  must  all 
be  desirous  of  avoiding  even  the  shadow  of  an 
imputation,  that  a  failure  of  the  Campaign  in 


Italy  should  be  attributed  to  a  want  of  exertion 
on  our  part. — I  cannot  in  justice  to  the  abilities, 
judgment,  and  activity  of  Captain  Nelson,  omit 
mentioning  the  very  high  estimation  in  which 
that  officer  is  held  by  General  cle  Vins,  and  the 
other  Austrian  General  Officers;  and  I  have 
thought  it  my  duty  to  transmit  to  his  Majesty's 
Ministers  at  home,  the  handsome  testimony 
which  our  Allies  bear  to  the  zeal  and  good  con- 
duct of  this  Officer,  whom  you  selected  to  com- 
mand the  Squadron  cooperating  with  them." 

The  various  and  important  services  which 
Captain  Nelson  b  performed  with  his  little  Squa- 
dron, formed  a  striking  contrast  with  the  slow 
and'  unprofitable  operations  of  the  powerful 
Austrian  army,  that,  was  to  have  acted  with 
him.  The  former  employed  his  force  to  the  very 
utmost  of  its  ability,  and  constantly  detached 
his  frigates  so  that  each  could  best  furnish  its 
respective  assistance,  to  promote  the  general 
object  in  view. — On  the  2cl  of  October,  he  di- 
rected Captain  Cockburn,  in  the  Meleager,  to 
run  along  shore  as  far  to  the  westward  as  Cape 
Garoupe,  and  thence  to  stand  over  as  near  Cor- 
sica, as  from  winds,  weather,  and  information, 
he  might  judge  necessary  for  intercepting  sup- 
plies going  to  St.  Remo;  on  which  station  he 

b  Captain  Nelson  did  not  obtain  a  Commodore's  pendant  until 
the  arrival  of  Sir  John  Jervis ;  when  the  former  received  what 
is  termed  a  ten  Shilling  pendant,  and  afterwards  a  broad  pendant, 
with  a  Captaio  under  him. 


254 

was  to  continue  for  eight  or  ten  days.  The 
active  mind  of  Nelson  was  also  employed 'in 
devising  some  stratagem,  that  might  induce  the 
French  squadron  to  sail  from  Genoa:  they  how- 
ever eluded  his*  design,  which  he  noticed  in 
writing  to  Mrs.  Nelson,  from  Vado  Bay,  Oct.  5, 
4 'As  soon  as  the  French  Squadron  knew  of  my 
absence,  they  made  a  push,  and  I  fear  are  all 
got  off.  Two  of  our  frigates  were  seen  firing 
at  them ;  but  I  have  not  much  expectation  of 
their  success.  It  was  a  near  touch,  for  I  came 
back  the  next  morning,  after  they  had  sailed  on 
the  preceding  evening.  I  am  vexed  and  dis- 
appointed. I  must  submit,  arid  hope  for  better 
luck  another  time;  yet  a  squadron  of  French 
Ships  would  have  so  graced  my  triumph.  In  the 
opinion  of  the  Genoese  my  squadron  is  con- 
stantly offending;  so  that  it  almost  appears  a 
trial  between  us  who  shall  first  be  tired,  they  of 
complaining,  or  me  of  answering  them.  How- 
ever, my  mind  is  fixed,  and  nothing  they  can 
say  will  make  me  alter  my  conduct  towards 
them. — I  have  just  received  a  very  affectionate 
letter  from  his  Royal  Highness  the  Duke  of 
Clarence,  and  he  appears  to  remember  our  long 
acquaintance  with  much  satisfaction :  one  of 
his  expressions  is,  /  never  part  with  a  letter  of 
yours,  they  are  to  me  highly  valuable.  He  finds 
me  unalterable,  which  I  fancy  he  has  not  always 
done  iu  those  he  has  honoured  with  a  preference." 


255 

Captain  Nelson  to  Mr.  Drake,  dated  Agamemnon, 

Vado  Bay,  Nov.  12. 

(1795.)  "My  dear  Sir,  I  had  yesterday  morn- 
ing a  letter  from  General  de  Vins,  informing 
me 'that  the  Tartans  were  withdrawn  from  Borjj- 

o 

hetto,  and  that  he  thinks  his  position  too  strong 
for  the  French  to  succeed  in  any  attack  they 
may  make.  Nothing,  I  am  sure  you  will  be- 
lieve, will  he  wanting  on  the  part  of  my  squa- 
dron to  cover  the  General's  flank  by  sea.  I 
have  requested  the  General  to  establish  signals 
by  guns,  when  I  should  be  with  him  before  they 
got  well  warm  in  the  attack.  Flora  and  a  brig 
are  now  cruising  off  Noli  and  Pietra,  but  I  fear 
they  may  be  blown  off  the  coast.  The  weather 
is  so  severe,  that  either  the  French  or  Austrians 
must  quit  the  hills;  and  as  some  Austrian  soldiers 
have  died  with  the  cold  on  their  posts,  the  enemy 
cannot  be  very  comfortable.  A  few  days  must, 
I  think,  give  a  turn  to  the  face  of  affairs.  Kel- 

'     O 

lerman,  I  understand,  visits  every  post  once  in 
twenty-four  hours,  and  says  every  thing  to  en- 
courage the  soldiers. 

"  Reports  say,  and  I  believe  it  is  true,  that 
Admiral  Hotham  has  struck  his  flag  and  given 
up  the  command,  as  also  Admiral  Goodall,  and 
that  Sir  Hyde  Parker  commands  the  Fleet  until 
Sir  John  Jervis's  arrival.  Captain  Frederick  has 
hoisted  a  distinguishing  pendant,  and  commands 
the  third  division  of  the  Fleet.  This  cannot,  my 
dear  Sir,  but  make  me  feel,  that  I  am  the  first 


256 

officer  commanding  a  Squadron  destined  to 
cooperate  -with  the  Austrians  and  Sardinians,  who 
has  been  without  a  distinguishing  pendant:  most 
have  had  a  broad  pendant,  but  that  I  neither 
expected,  nor  wished  for;  yet  I  think,  as  I  have 
had  the  pleasure  to  give  satisfaction  to  our 
Allies,  that  the  Ministry,  if  you  thought  proper 
to  represent  it,  would  Order  me  a  distinguishing 
pendant  from  my  having  this  command,  or  some 
other  mark  of  their  favour.  Pray  excuse  this 
part  of  my  letter,  I  am  assured  you  will  do 
what  is  right  for  me." 

Captain  Nelson  to  H.  R.  II.. the  Duke  of  Cla- 
rence,* Genoa  Roads,  Nov.  IS,  17il5. —  "Sir:  Al- 
most every  day  produces  such  changes  in  %the 
prospect  of  our  affairs,  that  in  relating  events 
I  hardly  know  where  to  begin.  The  two  Armies 
are  both  so  strongly  posted,  that  neither  is  wil- 
ling to  give  the  attack;  each  waits  to  see  which 
can  endure  the  cold  longest.  The  French  Ge- 
neral has  laid  an  embargo  on  all  the  vessels  on 
the  coast,  near  a  hundred  sail,  and  it  would  not 
surprise  me  if  he  were  meditating  a  retreat,  in 
case  his  plans  do  not  succeed;  which  I  hope 
they  will  not,  as  the  prevention  of  them  in  a 
great  measure  depends  on  our  naval  force  under 
my  orders.  This  has  called  me  here,  where  a 
circumstance  has  arisen  that  has  given  us  the 
alarm  sooner  than  was  intended. 

*  From  bis  Royal  Highness's  collection- 


257 

"  An  Austrian  Commissary  was  travelling  from 
Genoa  towards  Vado,  with  10,0007.  sterling,  and 
it  was  known  he  was  to  sleep  at  a  place  called 
Voltri,  about  nine  miles  from  Genoa.  This 
temptation  was  too  great  for  the  French  Cap* 
tain  of  the  Brune,  in  concert  with  the  French 
Minister,  to  keep  his  word  of  honour;  and  the 
boats  of  that  frigate,  with  some  privateers,  went 
out  of  the  port,  landed,  and  brought  back  the 
money.  The  next  day,  the  llth  of  November, 
recruiting  was  publickly  carried  on  in  the  town 
of  Genoa,  and  numbers  enlisted ;  and  on  the  13th 
at  night,  as  many  men  as  cquld  be  collected 
were  to  sail  under  convoy  of  the  Brune,  and  to 
land  and  take  a  strong  post  of  "the  Genoese, 
between  Genoa  and  Savona.  A  hundred  men 
were  to  have  been  sent  from  the  French  army 
at  Borghetto,  and  an  insurrection  of  the  Ge- 
noese peasantry  was  to  have  been  encouraged ; 
which  I  believe  M'^uld  have  succeeded  for  seve- 
ral miles  up  the  country.  General  de  Vins 
must  have  sent  four  or  five  thousand  men,  pro- 
bably, from  his  army,  which  would  have  given 
the  enemy  a  fair  prospect  of  success  in  their  in- 
tended attack.  The  scheme  was  bold,  but  I  do 
not  think  it  would  have  succeeded  in  all  points. 

"  However,  my  arrival  here  on  the  13th  in 
the  evening  caused  a  total  change:  the  frigate, 
knowing  her  deserts,  and  what  had  been  done 
here  before  with  the  transports  and  privateers, 
hauled  from  the  outer  to  the  inner  Mole,  and 
is  got  inside  the  merchant  ships,  with  her  pow- 

s 


258 

der  out,  for  no  ships  can  go  into  the  inner  Mole 
•with  powder  on  board;  and,  as  I  have  long  ex- 
pected an  embarkation  from  the  French  army 
from  the  westward  to  harass  General  de  Vins, 
there  I  was  fully  on  my  guard.  Whilst  I  remain 
here  no  harm  can  happen,  unless,  which  private 
information  says  is  likely  to  take  place,  that 
four  sail  of  the  line  and  some  frigates  are  to 
come  here,  and  take  Agamemnon  and  her  squa- 
dron. What  steps  the  Austrian  Generals  and 
Ministers  will  adopt  to  get  redress  for  this,  I 
fear,  allowed  breach  of  neutrality  on  the  part 
of  the  Genoese  government,  I  cannot  yet  tell. 
It  is  a  very  extraordinary  circumstance,  but  a 
fact,  that  since  my  arrival  respect  to  the  neutral 
port  has  not  been  demanded  of  me;  if  it  had, 
my  answer  was  ready,  That  it  was  useless  and  im- 
possible for  me  to  give  it.  As  the  breach  of  the 
neutrality  lias  not  been  noticed,  I  fancy  they 
are  aware  of  my  answer,  and  therefore  declined 
asking  the  question...!  beg  leave  to  subscribe 
myself,  your  Royal  Highnesses  most  attached  and 
faithful  Horatio  Nelson." 

(1795.)  Admiral  Goodall  did  not  strike  his 
flag,  without  taking  leave  of  his  friend,  dated 
Pisa,  November  8.  "  I  could  not,  my  dear 
Nelson,  leave  the  fleet  without  saying,  what 
satisfaction  it  gave  rne  to"  read  in  the  public 
papers,  Admiral  Hotham's  letter  to  the  Ad- 
miralty on  your  late  success :  It  afforded  me 
additional  pleasure,  as  I  had  so  warmly  recom- 
mended your  being  employed  on  that  service, 


259 

from  the  high  opinion  I  had  of  your  bravery 
and  activity.    Go  on,  and  prosper."  Commodore 
Nelson  also  about  the  same  time,  received  the  fol- 
lowing letter  from  his  Father.   "If  your  promises, 
my  dear  Horatio,  and  assurances  of  a  speedy  re- 
turn, could  be  made  good  by  an  act  of  your  own, 
they  would  remain  as  unalterable,  as  a  Persian, 
or  a  Median  law;  but  both  your  good  wife  and 
myself  perceive,   that  we  must  not  depend,   at 
present,  on  seeing  you. — The  unhappy  emigrants 
could  gain  no  footing  in  their  native  Country. 
A  Dutch  war  is  commenced.     The  minister  con- 
tinues to  have  a  great  majority  in  every  thing. 
Sir  Charles  Middleton  has  left  the  Admiralty. 
You  have  the  treasure  of  a  self  approving  mind ; 
for  a  while,  therefore,  retire  from  incessant  fa- 
tigue.-    Whatever  may  be   the  emoluments  of 
your  long  and  severe  service,  they  are  attended 
with  a  reputation,  which  will  endure,  I  believe, 
as  long  as  the  English  Annals  remain;  and  let 
me  say,  such  a  Wealth  will  descend  and  prove  inva- 
luable to  your  survivors.     My  feeble  and  imper- 
fect petition  is  daily  offered,  that  the  same  Pro- 
vidence   which   hitherto    has    ever  been   your 
shield  and  buckler,  in  the  hour  of  danger,  may 
still   preserve  you  from  The  arrow  that  flieth 
by  day,  and  the  pestilence  that  walketh  in  dark- 
ness.    In  days  of  peace,  you  will,  I  hope,  enjoy 
your   Cottage:    Agreeably  to    your   wishes    we 
have  taken  a  small  house  here  for  three  years ; 
the  sun  must  return  upon  us  before  I  can  revisit 


260 

Burnham.    God  bless  you  all.    Farewell.  Edmund 
Nelson." 

/E^Tjs  XV>  Towards  the  end  of  the  year, 
1795,  Captain  Nelson  received  an  order 
to  put  himself  under  the  command  of  Admiral 
Sir  John  Jervis,  K.  B.  dated  on  board  the  Lively, 
in  Gibraltar  Bay,  Nov.  19.  The  only  acquain- 
tance which  the  Captain  of  the  Agamemnon  had 
with  this  officer,  was  in  having  been  introduced 
to  him  by  Captain  Locker,  for  whom  the  Admi- 
ral entertained  the  highest  regard.  Without 
presuming  to  discuss  the  merit,  or  demerit  of 
this  great  naval  Commander,  it  is  necessary  here 
to  remark,  that  Nelson  found  in  Sir  John  Jervis, 
a  mind  perfectly  congenial  with  his  own ;  active, 
enterprising,  and  determined  to  pursue  against 
all  obstacles,  whatever  experience,  or  the  pass- 
ing events  of  the  day  pointed  out  as  his  pro- 
fessional or  political  duty.  With  the  reputation 
which  he  had  gained  in  the  various  gradations 
of  the  service,  was  united  a  thorough  knowledge 
of  the  politicks  of  the  British  empire,  and  of 
Europe,  and  a  keen  discrimination  of  the  real 
character  and  abilities  of  those  officers  who 
served  under  him.  Naturally  of  an  ambitious 
disposition,  and  professionally  a  strict  discipli- 
narian, he  despised  the  trammels,  and  sometimes 
perhaps  forgot  the  feelings  which  repress  com- 
mon minds;  and  being  determined  strictly  to 
execute  the  important  duties  that  were  intrusted 
to  him,  he  resolved,  that  every  person  in  the 


Fleet  should  rigidly  do  the  same.  Such  in  brief 
was  the  great  Naval  Officer,  who  now  superseded 
Vice  Admiral  Sir  Hyde  Parker,  Commander  in 
Chief  in  the  Mediterranean  for  the  time  being, 
after  Admiral  Hotham  had  struck  his  flag  and 
returned  to  England. 

One  of  the  first  official  communications,  which 
Captain  Nelson  made  to  his  new  Admiral,  was 
a  succint d  Retrospect  of  the  Vado  Campaign, 
the  greater  part  of  which  has  been  already  in- 
serted. He  declared,  that  owing  to  the  Agamem- 
non's staying  at  Genoa,  he  had  the  consolation 
to  feel  so  many  thousands  of  Austrians  owed 
their  safety,  by  the  pass  of  the  Bocchetta  being 
kept  open,  and  amongst  others  General  de  Vins 
himself.  The  ingratitude  which  the  Allies  of 
.Great  Britain  so  .constantly  displayed,  to  the 
utter  ruin  of  themselves  and  the  subsequent 
overthrow  of  the  political  balance  of  Europe, 
was  rendered  still  more  remarkable,  by  being 
directed  against  the  established  fame  of  Captain 
Nelson,  and  that  of  the  Officers  who  served  with 
him.  A  greater  instance  of  the  degradation  of 
the  European  States  cannot  easily  be  reserved 
for  posterity.  Notwithstanding  all  that  the  re- 
solute Captain  of  the  Agamemnon  had  performed, 
his  acknowledged  integrity,  his  perseverance, 
which  neither  the  indolence  nor  the  half  mea- 
of  others  could  abate,  they  fabricated  a 

Note,  Quarto  Edit.  Vol.  1;  Page  242. 


262 

malicious  falsehood  reflecting  on  that  integrity, 
and,  having  poisoned  the  mind  of  the  good  old 
King  of  Sardinia,  endeavoured  to  abate  the  con- 
fidence which  his  own  government  began  to 
place  in  his  services.  An  official  communication 
from  Mr.  Drake,  gave  Captain  Nelson  the  first 
intelligence  of  their  designs:  yielding,  therefore, 
to  the  impulse  of  his  indignant  sensations,  and 
conscious  of  his  uprightness,  he  immediately  ad- 
dressed the  following  letter  to  Lord  Grenville, 
Secretary  of  State  for  Foreign  Affairs,  dated 
Agamemnon,  Genoa  Road,  November  23,  179-5. 
"My  Lord,  Having  received,  from  Mr.  Drake, 
a  copy  of  your  Lordship's  letter  to  him  in  Oc- 
tober, enclosing  a  paper  highly  reflecting  on  the 
honour  of  myself,  and  other  of  his  Majesty's 
Officer's  employed  on  this  coast  under  my  orders, 
it  well  becomes  me  as  far  as  in  my  power  lies, 
to  wipe  away  this  ignominious  stain  on  our  cha- 
racters. I  do,  therefore,  in  behalf  of  myself] 
and  much  injured  brethren,  demand,  That  the 
person,  whoever  he  may  be,  that  wrote,  or  gave 
that  paper  to  your  Lordship,  should  fully  and 
expressly,  bring  home  his  charge;  which,  as  he 
states  that  this  agreement  is  made  by  numbers 
of  people  on  both  sides,  there  can  be  no  diffi- 
culty in  doing.  We  dare  him,  my  Lord,  to  the 
proof.  If  he  cannot,  I  do  humbly  implore,  that 
his  Majesty  will  be  most  graciously  pleased  to 
direct  his  Attorney  General  to  prosecute  this 
infamous  libeller  in  his  Majesty's  courts  of  law; 


263 

and  I  likewise  feel,  that,  without  impropriety, 
I  may  on  behalf  of  my  brother  Officers,  demand 
the  support  of  his  Majesty's  Ministers:  For,  as 
if  true,  no  punishment  can  be  too  great  for  the 
Traitors,  so,  if  false,  none  can  be  too  heavy  for 
the  Villain,  who  has  dared  to  allow  his  pen  to 
write  such  a  paper.  Perhaps  I  ought  to  close 
my  letter  here;  but  I  feel  too  much  to  rest  easy 
for  a  moment,  when  the  honour  of  the  Navy 
and  our  Country,  is  struck  at  through  us;  for  if 
ten  Captains  whom  chance  has  thrown  together, 
can  instantly  join  in  such  a  traitorous  measure, 
it  is  fair  to  conclude  we  are  all  bad. 

"  As  this  traitorous  agreement  could  not  be 
carried  on  but  by  concert  of  all  the  Captains, 
if  they  were  on  the  Stations  allotted  them;  and, 
as  they  could  only  be  drawn  from  those  stations 
by  orders  from  me,  I  do  most  fully  acquit  all  my 
brother  Captains  from  such  a  combination;  and 
have  to  request,  That  I  may  be  considered  as 
the  only  responsible  person  for  what  is  done 
under  my  command,  if  I  approve  of  the  conduct 
of  those  under  my  orders,  which  in  this  most 
public  manner  I  beg  leave  to  do:  for  Officers 
more  alert,  and  more  anxious  for  the  good  and 
honour  of  their  King  and  Country,  can  scarcely 
ever  fall  to  the  lot  of  any  commanding  officer; 
their  names c  I  place  at  the  end  of  this  letter. 

e  Captains  Fremantle,  Hope,  Cockburn,  Hon.  C.  Elphin- 
stone,  Shields,  Middleton,  Plampin,  Brisbane,  T.  JElphinstone, 
M'Namara, 


264 

For  myself,  from  my  earliest  youth  I  have  been 
in  the  naval  Service;  and,  in  two  wars,  have  been 
in  more  than  one  hundred  and  forty  skirmishes 
and  battles,  at  sea  and  on  shore;  have  lost  an 
eye,  and  have  often  bled  in  fighting  the  enemies 
of  my  King  and  Country:  and  God  knows,  inr 
stead  of  Riches,  my  little  fortune  has  been  dimi- 
nished in  the  service:  But  I  shall  not  trouble 
your  Lordship  further  at  present,  than  just  to 
say,  That  at  th£  close  of  this  Campaign,  where 
I  have  had  the  pleasure  to  receive  the  appro- 
bation of  the  Generals  of  the  allied  powers;  of 
his  Excellency  Mr.  Drake,  who  has  been  always 
on  the  spot;  of  Mr.  Trevor,  who  has  been  at  a 
distance;  when  I  expected  and  hoped  from  the 
representations  of  his  Majesty's  Ministers,  that 
his  Majesty  would  have  most  graciously  conde- 
scended to  have  favourably  noticed  my  earnest 
desire  to  serve  him,  instead  of  all  my  fancied  ap- 
probation, to  receive  an  accusation  of  a  most 
traitorous  nature — it  has  almost  been  too  much 
for  me  to  bear:  Conscious  Innocence,  I  hope, 
will  support  me." 

As  the  subject  of  this  letter  was  of  so  delicate 
and  extraordinary  a  nature,  it  was  deemed  expe- 
dient, previous  to  its  meeting  the  public  eye,  that 
it  should  be  laid  before  the  Hon.  Mr.  Trevor ;f 

f  The  original  letter  was  transmitted  by  the  Viscountess  Percival 
to  the  Hon.  Mr.  Trevor,  and  his  subsequent  answer  in  explanation 
of  the  subject  is  addressed  to  her  Ladyship,  dated  Nov.  29,  ISO/. 


265 

and  the  following  is  the  answer  which  he  trans- 
mitted. "I  return  you  the  very  energetic  let- 
ter of  my  late  noble  friend;  it  was  no  doubt 
addressed  to  Lord  Grenville,  from  whom  the 
paper  alluded  to  must  have  been  officially  sent 
to  Mr.  Drake.  A  scandalous  and  calumniating 
suspicion  prevailed  at  that  time  amongst  the 
Allies,  that  there  existed  a  criminal  connivance 
between  the  British  cruisers  in  the  Mediterra- 
nean, and  the  coasting  vessels  of  the  enemy; 
whereby  they  were  permitted  to  land  their  car- 
goes for  the  supply  of  the  French  army  in  the 
Riviera  of  Genoa. .  .1  never  saw  the  injurious 
paper  in  question.  From  his  ignorance  of  naval 
affairs,  the  Austrian  Commander,  who  felt  the 
effects  of  the  misfortune  without  sufficiently 
attending  to  its  cause,  easily  listened  to  the  mis- 
representations that  were  made  to  him  upon  the 
subject,  and  transmitted  them  to  his  Court; 
whence,  or  through  the  medium  of  that  of  Turin, 
they  reached  England.  The  accusation  was  pro- 
bably vague  and  general:  it  does  not  appear 
that  any  names  were  mentioned;  the  nature  and 
the  channel  of  the  information,  did  not  admit 
of  any  public  refutation  of  it,  and  Commodore 
Nelson's  letter,  as  well  as  Mr.  Drake's  answer, 
would  have  been  more  than  sufficient  to  oblite- 
rate in  a  moment  any  attention  that  might  have 
been  given  to  it  by  government. 

"  With  regard  to  the  mention  made  in  Nel- 
letter,  of  my  approbation  of  his  conduct^ 


266 

I  cannot  help  adding  a  little  on  that  subject, 
because  it  belongs  to  one  of  the  circumstances 
in  my  life,  which  I  recollect  with  the  greatest 
pleasure.  It  was  I  think  in  1795,  that  this  great 
man,  with  whom  I  had  been  in  official  corre- 
spondence, and  with  whom  and  Mr.  Drake  many 
conferences  had  been  held  on  board  the  Aga- 
memnon, and  whom  I  even  then  looked  up  to 
with  admiration;  sent  me  a  letter  expressive  of 
uneasiness  and  disappointment,  that  his  ardour 
and  faithful  services  had  not  been  more  favour- 
ably attended  to  by  government,  and  requesting 
me  to  furnish  him  with  a  letter  to  Ministers 
expressive  of  my  sense  of  his  services,  as  far  as 
they  had  fallen  within  the  sphere  of  my  obser- 
vation, or  knowledge.  I  have  often  regretted 
that  this  letter,  which  subsequent  events  have 
since  made  a  curious  and  interesting  document, 
was  burnt  with  my  papers  at  Turin;  but  I  possess 
a  copy  of  my  answer  to  it,  which  concluded 
with  these  words,  And  I  shall  ever  consider  it  as 
the  proudest  circumstance  in  my  life,  that  such  a 
character,  as  Commodore  Nelsons,  should  have 
thought  a  testimonial  of  mine  could  add  any  thing 
to  its  lustre." 

(1795.)  His  correspondence  with  Mrs.  Nelson, 
occasionally  gives  a  nearer  view  of  the  real  sen- 
timents of  this  great  and  extraordinary  man. 
On  the  2d  of  December,  when  at  sea,  he  said, 
"  Lord  Hood  will  have  discovered,  that  from 
my  last  letter  to  him  respecting  the  defeat  of 


267 

the  Austrians  on  the  23d  of  November,  the  loss 
of  Vado  would  consequently  follow.  Tell  him, 
the  French  had  collected  full  a  hundred  sail 
of  vessels,  in  case  of  failure,  to  carry  off  their 
troops;  they  had  also  ten  or  twelve  gun-vessels, 
as  many  privateers,  and  a  man  of  war  brig.  I 
described  to  the  Admiral  the  great  service  that 
the  destruction  of  these  vessels  would  be  of, 
many  of  them  being  laden  with  corn,  on  which 
the  French  General  had  laid  an  embargo;  and, 
as  I  had  not  force  enough,  I  begged  of  the  Ad- 
miral, if  he  came  to  sea,  to  look  at  this  fleet 
himself,  offering,  if  he  \vould  permit  me  the  ho- 
nour, to  lead  the  Culloden  and  Courageux  to 
the  attack,  and  with  my  then  squadron  of  fri- 
gates, to  take  or  destroy  the  whole:  I  pretend 
not  to  say,  the  Austrians  would  not  have  been 
beat,  had  not  the  gun-boats  harassed  them,  for 
on  my  conscience  I  believe  they  would;  but  I 
believe  the  French  would  not  have  attacked,  had 
we  destroyed  all  the  vessels  of  war,  transports, 
&c.  The  Austrians,  by  all  accounts,  did  not 
stand  firm.  The  French,  half  naked,  were  de- 
termined to  conquer  or  die;  and  had  I  not, 
though  I  own  against  my  inclination,  been  kept 
at  Genoa,  from  eight  to  ten  thousand  men  would 
have  been  taken  prisoners,  and  amongst  the 
number  General  de  Vins  himself.  For  the 
French  plan,  well  laid,  was  to  possess  a  post  in 
the  road  these  people  fled  by,  retreat  it  could 
not  be  called,  for,  except  a  part  of  the  army 


onder  General  Wallis  of  about  ten  thousand 
men,  it  was,  the  Demi  take  the  hindmost.  I 
had  a  lieutenant,  two  midshipmen,  and  sixteen 
men  taken  at  Vado;  the  purser  of  the  ship, 
who  was  there,  ran  with  the  Austrians  eighteen 
miles  without  stopping:  the  men  without  any 
arms  whatever,  officers  without  soldiers,  women 
without  assistance.  Thus  has  ended  my  Cam- 
paign  Let  the  blame  be  where  it  may,  I  do 

not  believe  any  party  will  seriously  lay  it  at  my 
door;  and  if  they  do,  I  am  perfectly  easy  as  to 
the  consequences.  I  sincerely  hope  an  inquiry 
may  take  place,  the  world  would  then  know 
how  hard  I  have  fagged.— Sir  John  Jervis  ar- 
rived at  St.  Fiorenzo  on  the  29th  of  November, 
to  the  great  joy  of  some  and  sorrow  of  others." 

(1795.)  In  a  letter  to  Sir  Gilbert  Elliot,  dated 
at  sea,  Dec.  4,  he  gave  an  ample  detail  of  these 
disastrous  events  near  Genoa.  "My  Campaign 
is  closed  by  the  defeat  of  the  Austrian  army, 
and  the  consequent  loss  of  Vado  and  every 
place  in  the  Riviera  of  Genoa;  and  I  am  on  my 
way  to  refit  poor  Agamemnon  and  her  miserable 
ship's  company  at  Leghorn.  We  are,  indeed, 
worn  out.  Except  six  days,  I  have  never  been 
(One  hour  off  the  station.  The  extraordinary 
events  which  have  taken  place  near  Genoa;  and 
the  plan  which  wa;s  laid  by  the  French,  to  take 
post  between  Voltri  and  Savona,  perhaps  you 
are  acquainted  with;  if  not  I  will  inform  you. 
Seven  hundred  men  were  enlisted  and  embarked^ 


269 

with  7000  stand  of  arms,  on  board  the  Braave 
French  frigate  in  Genoa,  and  many  small  lateen 
vessels.  These,  on  a  certain  night,  were  to  have 
landed  in  a  strong  post  between  Voltri  and 
Savona,  to  be  joined  in  small  feluccas  by  1000 
men  from  Borghetto;  and  an  insurrection  of 
the  Genoese  peasantry,  we  have  every  reason, 
to  believe,  would  have  been  made  for  forty 
miles  up  a  valley  towards  Piedmont:  but  the 
money  going  from  Genoa,  tempted  these  people 
to  make  an  attack  before  their  time,  which 
certainly  caused  the  plan  to  miscarry.  Great 
preparation  being  made  at  Genoa,  the  Agamem- 
non was  called  for  might  and  main,  to  prevent 
the  plan,  which  I  most  effectually  did ;  and  so 
fearful  were  the  Imperial  Minister  and  General 
of  my  leaving  Genoa,  that  I  was  told,  if  I  quit- 
ted Genoa,  the  loss- of  3000  Austrians  would  be 
the  certain  consequence.  Thus  I  was  placed  in, 
a  cleft  stick;  if  I  left  Genoa,  the  loss  of  3000 
men  would  be  laid  to  my  charge,  and  if  I  was 
not  at  Pietra,  the  gun-boats  would  unmolested 
harass  the  left  flank  of  the  army,  and  their  defeat 
might  very  probably  be  laid  to  the  want  of  as- 
sistance from  gAgamemnon." 

The  Agamemnon  arrived  at  Leghorn  Dec.  6, 
1795;  and  on  the  8th,  Captain  Nelson  informed 
Sir  Hyde  Parker,  that  the  Lowestoife  and  con- 
voy, owing  to  the  precaution  of  leaving  the 

S  See  Quarto  Edit.  Vol.  1.  Page  248.  His  letter  to  Mr.  Drake. 


270 

Meleager,  Captain  Cockburn,  off  Vado,  had 
been'  saved.  He  received  some  information  of 
the  appearance  and  state  of  the  French  Army, 
after  their  late  victory,  from  his  officers  who 
had  been  made  prisoners  at  Vado,  and  he  com- 
municated this  account,  on  the  18th  of  Decem- 
ber, 179-5,  when  writing  to  his  wife.  "I  have 
had  letters  from  my  poor  lieutenant  and  mid- 
shipmen, telling  me,  that  few  of  the  French 
Soldiers  are  more  than  23  or  24  years  old;  a 
great  many  do  not  exceed  14  years,  all  without 
clothes;  and  my  officers  add,  they  are  sure  my 
barge's  crew  would  have  beat  a  hundred  of 
them,  and  that,  had  I  seen  them,  I  should  not 
have  thought  if  the  world  had  been  covered 
with  such  people,  that  they  could  have  beat  the 
Austrian  army.  The  oldest  officers  say,  they 
never  heard  of  so  complete  a  defeat,  and  cer- 
tainly without  any  reason.  The  King  of  Sar- 
dinia was  very  near  concluding  a  hasty  peace 
in  the  panic:  however,  I  believe,  we  shall  now 
make  peace,  when  the  Emperor  must  do  the 
same." 

(1795.)  In  a  letter  to  Sir  John  Jervis,  Dec.  21, 
Captain  Nelson  said,  "By  thejirst  week  in  January, 
I  hope  that  Agamemnon  will  be  as  fit  for  sea  as  a 
rotten  ship  can  be.  I  have  written  to  Genoa,  di- 
recting Captain  Cockburn  to  take  the  ships  in 
that  port  under  his  protection  to  Leghorn;  but 
should  they,  from  any  change  of  circumstances, 
not  wisli  to  leave  Genoa,  the  Meleager  is  then 


271 

to  join  me  here,  by  Dec.  31,  when  I  shall  order 
Captain  Cockburn  to  be  ready  for  sea." — When 
the  Agamemnon  came  into  clock  to  be  refitted, 

O  ' 

there  \vas  not  a  mast,  yard,  sail,  or  any  part  of 
the  rigging,  but  was  obliged  to  be  repaired, 
owing  to  the  shot  she  had  received.  Her  hull 
had  been  long  secured  by  cables  served  round. 

(1796.)  If  we  consider  the  political  aspect  of 
Italy,  at  the  beginning  of  this  year,  we  shall 
perceive  an  extraordinary  want  of  national 
energy,  and  a  general  weakness  throughout  its 
different  States,  accompanied  with  that  fatal 
supineness  which  has  generally  preceded  the 
dissolution  of  all  governments,  The  royal  house 
of  Sardinia,  the  guardian  of  the  Alps  and  con- 
sequently the  natural  bulwark  of  Italy,  was  in- 
deed represented  by  the  good  Monarch,  Victor" 
Amkdee,  as  great  and  as  much  beloved  as  any 
of  his  illustrious  ancestors;  but  the  intrigues 
and  seditious  practices,  which  the  French  fo- 
mented throughout  the  whole  of  his  Piedmon- 
tese  dominions,  rendered  the  zeal  of  this  Sove- 
reign iiH-iTectual,  and  even  his  power  precarious. 
The  court  of  Naples,  owing  to  the  spirit  of  its 
Queen,  who  at  that  time  was  convulsed  at  the 
name  of  a  Frenchman,  appeared  ready  to  make 
exertions  for  the  support  of  the  good  cause;  but 
a  variety  of  reasons  prevented  this  Court  from 
acting  with  a  corresponding  degree  of  energy. 
The  Nation  was  loyal,  but  its  Government  had 
grown  feeble;  and  its  Statesmen  had  no  fixed 


272 

principle  of  public  integrity. — The  unfortunate 
Pontiff,  Pius  VI.  although  deeply  affected  at 
the  impending  dangers,  entertained  hopes  of 
averting  the  ruin  with  which  the  States  of  the 
church  of  Rome  were  threatened,  by  remaining 
inactive  and  becoming  a  silent  spectator  of 
the  overwhelming  devastation.  That  excellent 
Prince,  FERDINAND,  Grand  Duke  of  Tuscany, 
with  the  highest  sense  of  moderation  and  libe- 
rality, was  assisted  by  the  great  political  abili- 
ties of  his  Minister  Manfredini  and  the  diplo- 
matic experience  of  the  Comte  Carletti;  but 
both  were  foiled  by  the  new  measures  and  bare- 
faced depredations  of  the  French,  whose  rapacity 
they  vainly  expected  to  lull  asleep  by  unbounded 
concessions.  The  Republic  of  Venice  was  go- 
verned by  the  Doge  MANIN,  and  by  some  dis- 
tinguished Senators,  who  whilst  they  wished  at 
any  rate  to  preserve  their  independence,  were 
at  the  same  time  fearful  of  forfeiting  their  landed 
property  in  Terra  Firma.  The  Doge  of  Genoa, 
BRIGNOLE,  though  well  intentioned,  was  a  man 
of  no  abilities;  nor  were  his  colleagues  in  go- 
vernment, in  any  respect,  his  superiors.  The 
Genoese  Nobles,  although  proverbially  proud, 
and  retaining  an  utter  detestation  of  the  French, 
had  all  considerable  sums  of  money  invested  in 
the  French  funds,  and  were  all  equally  jealous 
of  the  good  King  of  Sardinia,  whom  they  con- 
sidered as  the  natural  enemy  of  their  indepen- 
dence. They  also  wished  to  take  advantage  of 


273 

the  general  confusion,  to  become  in  a  great  mea* 
sure  the  exclusive  carriers  of  the  French;  and 
for  a  long  time  deluded  themselves  by  believing, 
that  when  the  Directory  had  sworn  destruction 
to  monarchies,  they  had  resolved  to  spare  re- 
publics. 

Such  was  the  general  State  of  Italy,  wheirthe 
destroying  genius  of  Buonaparte  was  sent  to 
consummate  its  misery.  Having  through  the 
means  of  Barras  and  a  marriage  with  the  lady 
he  recommended,  obtained  the  command  of  the 
French  army  in  Italy,  this  young  and  enterpri- 
sing General  arrived  at  his  head-quarters  early 
in  the  spring  of  1796.  General  Beaulieu  was 
appointed,  after  some  time,  to  the  command  of 
the  Emperor's  forces,  and  General  Colli  con- 
tinued at  the  head  of  the  Sardinian  troops. 

On  the  6th  of  January,  1796,  whilst  the  Aga- 
memnon remained  at  Leghorn  to  refit,  Captain 
Nelson  in  writing  to  his  wife,  said,  "The  French, 
I  am  certain,  will  this  Spring  make  a  great  exer- 
tion to  get  into  Italy,  and  I  think  Sir  John  Jervis 
must  be  active  to  keep  them  out.  They  will  im- 
prove on  their  last  year's  folly.  I  am  convinced 
in  my  own  mind,  that  I  know  their  ven/  landing- 
place.  If  they  mean  to  carry  on  the  war,  they  must 
penetrate  into  Italy.  Holland  and  Flanders,  with 
their  own  Country,  they  have  entirely  stripped.  Italy 
is  the  gold  mine;  and,  if  once  entered,  is  without  the 
means  of  resistance.'' 

On   the    1.9th   of  January,    the   Agamemnon 


274 

joined  Sir  John  Jervis'  fleet  in  Fiorenzo  Bay, 
wht-rt-  Captain  N.lson  had  his  first  iuteniew 
\vith  that  Adm-ral;  who,  notwithstanding  the 

'  O 

jealousy  and  envy  that  prevailed  against  Nel- 
.son,  very  soon  beca.ne  his  steady  and  liberal 
patron.  The  next  day  the  following  account  of 
his  reception  was  sent  to  Mrs.  Nelson.  "We 
were  received,  not  only  with  the  greatest  atten- 
tion, but  with  much  apparent  friendship.  Sir 
John  Jeryis'  offer  of  either  the  St.  George,  90,  or 
Zealous,  74,  was  declined;  but  with  that  respect, 
and  sense  of  obligation  on  my  part,  which  such 
handsome  conduct  demanded  of  me.  I  found 
the  Admiral  anxious  to  know  many  things, 
which  I  was  a  good  deal  surprised  to  find  had 
not  been  communicated  to  him  from  others  in 
the  fle*et;  and  it  would  appear,  that  he  was  so 
well  satisfied  with  my  opinion  of  what  is  likely 
to  happen,  and  the  means  of  prevention  to  be 
taken,  that  he  had  no  reserve  with  me  respect- 
ing his  information  and  ideas,  of  what  is  likely 
to  be  done.  He  concluded  by  asking  me,  If  I 
should  have  any  objection  to  serve  under  him, 
with  my  flag;  rny  answer  was,  That  if'  I  were 
ordered  to  hoist  my  flag,  I  should  certainly  be  happy 
in  serving  under  him;  but  if'  Agamemnon  were  or- 
dered  to  go  home,  and  my  flag  were  not  arrived, 
I  should  on  many  accounts  wish  to  return  to  Eng- 
gland;  yet  stilt,  if  the  war  continued,  I  should  be 
very  proud  of' the  honour  of  hoisting  my  flag  under  his 
command',  and,  I  rather  believe,  Sir  John  Jervis 


275 

writes  home  this  day,  that  if  the  Fleet  is  kept 
here,  my  flag,  on  a  promotion,  may  be  sent  to 
the  Mediterranean.  The  credit  I  derive  from 
all  these  compliments  must  be  satisfactory  to 
you;  and,  should  I  remain  until  peace,  which 
cannot  be  very  long,  you  will  I  sincerely  hope 
make  your  mind  easy." 
The  Rev.  Edmund  Nelson  to  his  Son  Horatio, 

dated  Jan.  4,  1796. 

"  The  commencement  of  a  new  Year,  calls  on 
a  Father's  tender  and  affectionate  feelings,  to 
rejoice  with  you  on  the  many  extraordinary 
escapes  you  have  experienced,  which  do  evi- 
dence a  providential  hand  that  has  guarded  you 
from  impending  dangers:  may  that  Great  and 
Good  Being  still  be  your  Shield  and  Defender. 
I  have  also  further  joy  in  perceiving  those  self- 
approving  reflections,  which  arise  from  a  con- 
sciousness of  having  done  all,  that  the  great 
trust  reposed  in  you  could  require;  and  this 
you  must  feel  in  the  highest  degree.  May  you, 
my  clear  Son,  add  year  to  year  through  a  long 
life,  with  the  indescribable  delight,  that  your 

own  heart  condemns  you  not The  almost 

daily  proofs  of  your  faithful  observance  of  your 
various  professional  duties,  are  pleasing  com- 
pensations for  your  long  absence:  every  dis- 
appointment has  its  consolation,  every  storm  its 
succeeding  sunshine,  and  we  bring  this  home 
immediately  to  ourselves.  You  are  now  in  the 
very  meridian  of  life,  and  have  daily  oppor-  » 

T  Q 


276* 

tunities  of  growing  rich  in  Jvnowledge,  of  filling 
your  honest  and  well  disposed  heart  with,  the 
stores  of  good  grain,  which  in  time  to  come, 
when  the  mental  powers  shall  decay,  shall  prove 
a  treasure  and  make  good  what  time  has  stolen 
away.  Old  age  is  only  made  pleasant  by  happy 
reflections,  and  by  reaping  the  harvest  we  have 
sown  in  youth.  Be  assured,  my  good  Son,  I 
now  regret  to  find  that  my  stock  in  this  respect 
is  low:  my  education,  situation  in  life,  and  op- 
portunities of  improvement,  have  been  all  against 
me.  But,  thank  God!  I  still  retain  some  sources 
of  delight.  My  setting  Sun  is  clearer  than 
when  it  was  mid-day.  My  blessings  are  innu- 
merable, my  wishes  most  abundantly  fulfilled. 
God  bless  you!  and  prosper  all  you  undertake. 
Farewell.  Edmund  Nelson." — Such  letters,  as 
Mr.  Roscoeh  observes  of  one  addressed  by  Lo- 
renzo de  Medici  to  his  celebrated  Son,  may  be 
considered  as  the  guide  of  the  future  life  and 
fortunes  of  the  person  to  whom  they  were  ad- 
dressed: they  could  not  fail  of  making  a  lasting- 
impression  on  his  affectionate  and  religious  dis- 
position. 

(1796.)  Captain  Nelson  soon  perceived,  that 
the  active  and  enterprising  mind  of  Sir  John 
Jervis  was  congenial  with  his  own.  Before  the 
Agamemnon  sailed  from  Fiorenzo,  they  had  fre- 
quent conferences  together,  and  the  former  was 

h  V«l.  II.  8v«.  odition,  p.  Ip6. 


277 

not  long  in  acquiring  that  confidence  from  his 
Admiral,  which  gradually  enabled  Nelson  to  at«- 
tain  the  summit  of  his  own  ambition,  and  even- 
tually to  promote  the  renown  of  his  Commander 
in  Chief.  His  correspondence  with  -Sir  John 
Jervis,  at  first,  merely  gave  the  official  detail 
of  the  services  on  which  the  Agamemnon  was 
employed. 

To  Mrs  Nelson,  Gulf  of  Genoa,  Jan.  27,  -179& 
"  I  sent  you  a  line  just  as  I  was  getting  under 
sail  from  St.  Fiorenzo.  The  fleet  was  not  a  -little 
surprised  at  my  leaving  them  so  soon,  and,  I 
fancy,  there  was  some  degree  of  envy  attached 
to  the  surprise;  for  one  Captain  told  me,  You 
did  just  as  you  pleased  in  Lord  Hood's  timey  the 
same  in  Admiral  Hotharis,  and  now  again  with 
Sir  John  Jervis;  it  makes  no  difference  to  you  who 
is  Commander  in  chief:  I  returned  a  pretty  strong 
answer  to  this  speech. — My  command  here  is  to 
prevent  any  small  number  of  men  from  making 
a  descent  in  Italy." 

Off  the  Hieres  Islands,  hi  continuation,  Feb.  17. 
"Time,  my  dear  Fanny,  will  soon  wear  away, 
when  we  shall,  I  doubt  not,  possess  a  Cottage 
of  our  own  and  an  ample  income  to  live  on,  if 
not  in  luxury,  at  least  in  comfort.  As  yet,  I 
appear  to  stand  \vell  with  Sir  John  Jervis,  and 
it  shall  not  be  my  fault,  if  I  do  not  continue  to 
do  so,  my  conduct  has  no  mystery:  i  freely 
communicate  my  knowledge  and  observations, 
and  only  wish,  that  whatever  Admiral  I  serve 


278 

under,  may  make  a  proper  use  of  it.     God  for- 
bid, I  should   have  any  other  consideration  on 
Service,   than  the  Good  of  my  Country. — I  am 
now  sent  to  examine  the  state  of  the  ships  in 
Toulon;  their  numbers  we  know  full  well,  but 
the  accounts  of  the    state  they  are  in,  are  so, 
contradictory,    as   to  leave    us  uncertain.       Sir 
John  Jervis  is  at  present  inferior  to  the  French : 
they  have  built  five  sail  of  the  line  since  we  left 
Toulon. — (Feb.  28.)     I    am  now  on  my  way  to 
Genoa,  having  been  joined  by  the  Admiral  on 
the  23d,  off  Toulon.     The  French  have  thirteen 
sail  of  the  line  and  five  frigates  ready  for  sea- 
and  four  or  five  which  are  in  great  forwardness, 
are  fitting  in  the  Arsenal.     Sir  John  Jervis  from 
his  manner,  as  I  plainly  perceive,  does  not  wish 
me  to  leave  this  station.     He  seems  at  present 
to    consider  me   more  as  an  associate,    than  a 
subordinate    officer;    for   I    am   acting   without 
any  orders.     This  may  have  its  difficulties  at  a 
future  day;  but  I  make  none,   knowing  the  up- 
rightness of  my  intentions.     He  asked  me,  if  I 
had  heard   any  more  of  my  promotion?  I  told 
him,  no:   his  answer  was,    "  You  must  have   a 
larger  skip,  for  we  cannot  spare  you,    either  as 
Captain  or  Admiral." 

From  Genoa  Mole  the  Agamemnon  sailed  to 
Leghorn  to  refit;  but  previous  to  this,  Captain 
Nelson  on  the  4th  of  March  requested  further 
information  from  Mr.  Trevor,  respecting  the 
actual  state  of  Sardinia.  On  the  l6th,  when  at 


279 

Sea,  he  forwarded  to  Sir  John  Jervis  a  part  of 
this  diplomatic  correspondence:  "I  beg  leave, 
Sir,  to  transmit  copies  of  all  the  letters  that  have 
passed  between  me  and  his  Majesty's  Ministers 
at  Turin,  Genoa,  and  Naples,  that  you  may  be 
in  full  possession  of  my  conduct,  and  know  whe- 
ther I  am  worthy  the  honour  of  commanding 
the  Squadron  intrusted  to  my  direction.  My 
last  letter  to  Mr.  Drake,  dated  yesterday,  is  of 
so  very  important  a  nature,  and  the  opinion  I 
have  given  so  very  decisive,  that  I  must  request 
you  will  send  me  your  ideas  of  my  conduct,  as 
soon  as  possible:  should  it  unfortunately  be  dis- 
approbation, I  have  only  to  regret  that  my  abi- 
lities are  not  equal  to  my  zeal." 

(1796.)  The  following  extracts  are  from  the 
letters  that  were  enclosed  to  the  Commander  in 
Chief,  the  principal  of  which  was  one  that  had 
been  received  from  Mr.  Drake,  dated  Milan, 
March  6.  "My  dear  Sir,  It  was  with  great 
satisfaction  that  I  learnt  from  your  letters,  Feb. 
28,  and  March  2,  your  safe  arrival  at  Genoa, 
after  so  perilous  a  passage  to  Toulon. — I  have 
given  directions  to  Mr.  Bra  me,  to  communicate 
to  you  and  Sir  John  Jervis,  or  any  officer  you 
may  depute,  whatever  intelligence  he  may  re 
ceive  from  Toulon,  interesting  to  our  Navy.  I 
suppose  the  alarms  respecting  the  Duchy  of 
Masso  Carrera  are  subsided  for  the  present ; 
but  1  do  not  think  it  by  any  means  an  improba- 
ble conjecture,  that  the  Toulon  armament  raai 


280 

be  directed  against  the  Gulf  of  Especia,  in  order 
to  procure  an  entry  for  the  French  troops  into 
Italy,  on  that  side.  ...  I  am  so  deeply  involved 
in  business  of  various  sorts,  that  I  cannot  at 
present  get  away  from  this  place,  otherwise  I 
should  endeavour  to  see  you  at  Genoa;  that  I 
might  confide  to  you  some  operations  which  I 
have  lately  proposed  to  Lord  Grenville  and  his 
Majesty's  Ministers,  and  in  which  I  have  taken 
the  liberty  of  mentioning  you  for  the  principal 
actor.  I  expect  an  answer  to  my  proposals  in 
the  course  of  this  month,  and  if  they  are  agreed 
to,  I  shall  make  a  point  of  seeing  you,  as  well 
as  the  Admiral,  wherever  you  may  be,  either 
at  Leghorn  or  Genoa.  I  cannot  venture  to  say 
more  than  this,  in  a  letter  by  the  common  post. 
I  have  every  reason  to  hope,  that  the  Emperor 
'will  be  able  to  reassume  his  superiority  in  this 
quarter.  No  Commander  in  Chief  is  yet  ap- 
pointed in  the  room  of  de  Vins;  but  the  famous 
General  Beaulieu  is  arrived  here,  and  if  he  does 
not  actually  command,  he  will  undoubtedly  have 
a  very -considerable  influence  on  the  military 
operations.  I  shall  give  you  some  ideas  of  the 
plans  which  it  is  intended  to  follow,  by  a  future 
opportunity.  All  prospects  of  peace  have  com- 
pletely vanished,  and  I  suppose  the  armistice  on 
the  Rhine  will  soon  give  place  to  hostilities. 
The  French  government  holds  a  very  high  lan- 
guage; but  I  am  credibly  informed,  that  its 
arrogance  is.  confined  to  the  gazettes,  and  the 


281 

sittings  of  the  two  Councils.  The  Directory 
trembles,  and  feels  conscious  that  its  credit,  nay 
even  its  existence,  depends  on  the  issue  of  the 
first  battle." 

(17<j6\)  Mr.  Drake  having  returned  for  a  few 
days  unexpectedly  to  Genoa,  requested  an  im- 
mediate  interview  with  Captain  Nelson,  who 
had  sent  an  official  communication  to  his  Ex- 
cellency, dated  March  1.5:  "Having  received 
information,  on  which  I  am  told  I  may  depend, 
that  Salicetti  js  now  here  with  other  Commis- 
sioners, for  the  express  purpose  of  expediting 
the  operations  of  the  French  army,  towards  the 
invasion  of  Italy;  and  that  one  of  the  three 
columns  into  which  that  army  is  to  be  divided,  is 
either  to  penetrate  through  the  Genoese  terri- 
tory, or  to  be  conveyed  coastways  to  take  pos- 
session of  Port  Especia,  which  will  instantly 
give  them  the  flat  country  as  far  as  Leghorn, 
and  no  doubt  but  a  small  army  appearing  before 
Leghorn,  would1  without  any  difficulty  make 
themselves  masters  of  it;  I  therefore  feel  it  my 
duty,  as  Commanding  Offictr  of  his  Majesty's 
squadron  employed  on  this  coast,  and  in  the 
absence  of  the  naval  Commander  in  chief,  to 
state  clearly  the  fatal  consequences  which  will 
attend  this  plan  of  the  French  commissioners. 
The  possession  of  Port  Especia  will  always  give 
an  easy  access  to  every  part  of  Italy,  even  to 
the  kingdom  of  Naples,  and  also  security  to 
transports,  ships  of  war,  and  small  vessels;  and 


I  moreover  beg  it  may  be  understood,  tbat  if 
the  French  flotilla  proceeds  along  the  coast,  our 
ships  of  war  cannot  molest  them;  not  being  able 
to  approach  the  coast,  from  the  shallowness  of 
the  water.  I  must  besides  observe,  that  the 
enemy  possessing  Leghorn,  cuts  o{r\_all  our  sup- 
plies, and  of  course  our  fleet  cannot  always  be 
looked  for  on  the  northern  coast  of  Italy.  I 
therefore  beg  leave  to  state,  that  to  obviate 
these  misfortunes,  two  plans  are  necessary  to  be 
attended  to:  the  firsthand  best,  is  the  possession 
of  Vado  Bay ;  this  done,  as  far  as  human  fore- 
sight can  discern,  Italy  is  safe;  the  next  is  the 
taking  of  Port  Kspecia — and,  as  a  sea  officer,  I 
beg  leave  to  say,  that  unless  one  of  these  plans 
is  adopted,  my  Admiral,  and  Commander  in 
Chief  of  his  Majesty's  fleet,  cannot  answer  for 
the  safety  of  Italy  from  any  attempts  that  may 
be  made  on  it  coastways." 

On  the  16th  of  March,  having  seen  Mr. 
Drake,  Nelson  sent  a  second  letter  to  his  Ad- 
miral, giving  him  an  account  of  that  interview. 
"  Mr.  Drake  having  expressed  a  wish  to  see  me, 
to  communicate  many  things,  which  he  did  not 
think  it  right  to  trust  to  paper,  I  arrived  yes- 
terday morning  at  Genoa,  with  Meleager  and 
Blanche,  and  held  a  conference  with  him.  The 
same  cause,  which  prevented  him  from  writing, 
prevents  me  from  entering  fully  on  the  part  of 
the  plan  intimated  in  his  letter,  and  which  at 
present  is  submitted  to  the  consideration  of 


283 

Ministers:    but,    when   I    have  the    honour  or 
meeting  you,   I  am  at  full  liberty  to  communi- 
cate it;  for  I  would  receive  no  information,  or 
plans,  which  I  might  not  freely  communicate  to 
you.      Mr.  Drake  expressed   himself  pleased  at 
your  determination  to  give  the  Austrian  General 
a  meeting,  whenever  he  chose  to  bring  his  army 
on  the  coast:  but,  at  the  same  time,  he  said,  he 
found  it  extremely  difficult  to  make  them  hear 
of  the  Riviera,    although   he  had  pressed  very 
much  to  have  the  plan  of  the  last  year  carried 
into  execution;  with  the  exception,  in  the  first 
instance,   of  penetrating  into  Provence.      The 
Commander  in  Chief  of  the  Army  was  not  yet 
fixed  on ;  but  it  was  understood,  that  the  Arch- 
duke   M'as   to    be    the    nominal,     and    General 
Beaulieu  the  active  Commander  in  Chief;   that 
Beaulieu   wished    to    meet   the    French   in   the 
plains  of  Lombardy,  and  then  to  follow  up  the 
blow  which  he  had  no  doubt  would  be  decisive. 
"I  could  not  help  observing,  That  the  very- 
reason  why  the  General  wished  to  meet  them 
in  a  particular  place,   would   of  course  be  the 
reason  why  the  French  would  not  penetrate  by 
that  route;  and  that  respecting  the  information 
which  I  had  received,   of  the  intention  of  the 
Directory  to  order  the  movement  of  their  army 
in  three  columns,  one  by  Ceva,   another  by  the 
pass   of  the   Bochetta,    and  another  to  march 
through  the  Genoese    territory,    or  be  carried 
coastways  to  Port  Especia,   which  would  give 


284 

them  an  easy  entry  into  the  plains  of  Italy;  I 
had  no  doubt  the  two  first  would  be  feints,  and 
the  last  the  real  plan.— I  must  here  observe, 
that,  before  night,  Mr.  Drake  had  the  ,«ame  in- 
formation communicated  to  him;  and  also,  that 
a  body  of  troops  would  be- embarked  on  board 
the  fleet,  the  moment  Richery  arrived  from 
Cadiz,  and  a  push  be  made  for  Port  Especia. 
This  information  induced  me,  and  if  possible  more 
strongly  than  ever,  to  press  the  measure  of 
taking  Vado,  or  Port  Especia,  without  delay;  and 
I  added,  that  \\nthout  one,  or  the  other  was 
done,  you  'could  not  answer  for  the  safety  of 
Italy  coastways,  it  being  now  perfectly  clear 
for  what  the  two  hundred  flat  boats  were  built, 
and  the  numerous  gun-boats  fitted  out.  Mr. 
Drake  told  me,  that  he  had  already  urged  the 
measure  of  taking  Vado,  and  would  continue 
to  do  it,  and  would  also  instantly  press  the  ne- 
cessity of  possessing  Port  Especia ;  if  I  would 
declare,  that  our  naval  force  should  support  the 
Austrians  from  attacks  by  sea;  which,  I  said, 
there  could  be  no  doubt  of,  for  it  would  be  the 
home  of  our  squadron  employed  on  this  coast. 
He  then  desired  me  to  give  my  opinion  in  wri- 
ting, as  the  authority  of  a  sea  officer  would  have 
more  weight  than  all  he  could  urge;  and  this 
•was  the  cause  of  my  writing  the  letter,  on  which 
I  am  so  anxious  to  obtain  your  sentiments." 

Such  constant  anxiety  and  exertion   of  mind, 
were  almost  too  much  for  the  constitution  of 


285 

Nelson;  for  in  a  letter  to  Mr.  Drake,  on  the 
25th  of  March,  he  said,  "  I  do  not  know  when 
I  have  been  so  ill,  as  during  this  cruise,  but  I 
hope  a  good  opening  to  the  Campaign  will  set 
me  quite  to  rights.  Whilst  I  receive  from  your 
Excellency,  from  Mr.  Trevor,  and  my  Admiral, 
every  approbation  of  my  conduct,  I  should  be 
a  wretch  not  to  exert  myself." — When  writing 
to  Mrs.  Nelson  on  the  same  date,  he  sent  home 
to  her  and  his  father,  the  following  very  ho- 
nourable testimony  to  his  exertions,  from  Sir 
John  Jervis.  "  I  have  received  by  the  Blanche, 
your  two  letters,  of  the  16th  and  19th  instant, 
together  with  the  several  enclosures,  and  copies 
of  your  correspondence  at  Turin,  Genoa,  and 
Naples;  and  I  feel  the  greatest  satisfaction,  in 
communicating  this  public  testimony  of  my 
thorough  approbation  of  your  late  conduct,  and 
recent  correspondence."  In  his  private  letter, 
Sir  John  Jervis  added,  c<  No  words  can  express 
the  sense  I  entertain  of  every  part  of  your  con- 
duct, and  I  shall  be  very  happy  to  manifest  it 
in  the  most  substantial  Rianner:  a  distinguishing 
pendant  you  shall  certainly  wear,  and  I  will 
write  to  Lord  Spencer  about  you.  In  short 
there  is  nothing,  within  my  grasp,  that  I  shall 
not  be  proud  to  confer  on  you." — All  this,  my 
dear  Fanny,  is  certainly  flattering  and  pleasant; 
and  these  blossoms  may  one  day  bring  forth 
fruit.  I  have  just  read  in  the  papers,  that  Ad- 
miral Christian  has  a  red  ribbon;  and  it  has 


286 

given  me  pleasure  to  see,  that  merit,  although 
unfortunate,  is  not  always  neglected.  God  bless 
you,  and  give  us  a  happy  meeting  and  soon, 
is  the  most  sincere  wish  of  your  affectionate 
husband." 

On  the  8th  of  April,  1796,  the  Commodore 
sent  to  Sir  John  Jervis  a  most  able  'reply  to  those 
complaints  of  insult  and  accusations  of  a  breach 
of  neutrality,  which  the  republic  of  Genoa  con- 
tinued to  forward,  owing  to  French  influence, 
through  its  minister  the  Marquis  of  Spinola,  to 
our  Court.  It  concluded  in  the  following  man- 
ner. "  Having  thus,  Sir,  answered  every  part 
of  the  accusation  made  by  the  Genoese  Minister, 
I  beg  leave  to  say  a  few  words  on  his  conclusion, 
which  is  certainly  a  most  extraordinary  one, 
To  pretend  to  assert,  that  although  our  enemies 
take  possession  of  and  continue  in  the  republic 
of  Genoa,  we  are  not,  by  every  means  in  our 
power,  to  attack  them  both  at  sea  and  on  shore, 
will  bear  reasoning  upon;  but  I  can  with  truth 
declare,  that  in  the  act  of  distressing  our  enemies 
in  the  republic  of  Genoa,  the  greatest  forbear- 
ance and  even  acts  of  kindness,  have  been 
constantly  shewn  to  individual  Genoese.  The 
republic  of  Genoa  has  now  had  six  months  un- 
molested fraternization  with  the  French  army; 

»  See  Quarto  Edit.  Vol.  1.  Page  265 — 267.  nnd  also  Commo- 
dore Nelson's  conversation  with  the  Baron  de  Malcamp,  Pages 
270,  and  271. 


287 

and  I  am  assured,  that  the  inhabitants  cf  the 
republic  had  rather  again  encounter  our  fancied 
breaches  of  neutrality,  and  violation  of  territory, 
than  the  fraternal  embraces  of  the  French  troops, 
which  have  been  given  to  their  women,  their 
churches,  and  olive  trees." 

(1796'.)  The  Agamemnon's  broad  Pendant  had 
not  been  long  flying  off  Genoa,  before  the  cir- 
cumstance of  the  Commodore's  arrival,  rendered 
the  diplomatic  corps  extremely  anxious  to  enjoy 
the  advantage  of  that  decision  and  intuitive 
conception  of  the  proceedings  of  the  enemy, 
which  marked  the  character  of  Nelson.  A  mes- 
sage was  accordingly  despatched  to  request  his 
immediate  attendance,  and  in  his  letter  to  the 
Admiral,  April  9,  he  seems  to  chide  himself  for 
an  unavoidable  delay,  "  On  my  arrival  off 
here,  yesterday  morning,  I  was  so  strongly 
pressed  by  the  Sardinian  and  Imperial  Ministers 
to  come  into  the  port,  in  order  that  they  might 
have  some  conversation  with  me,  that,  although 
rather  against  my  inclination  of  anchoring,  I 
could  not  refuse;  and  I  am  just  going  on  shore 
to  meet  them.  There  has  been  some  little 
skirmishing  between  the  advanced  piquets  of 
the  two  armies  in  the  vicinity  of  Voltri;  but  it 
is  generally  thought  the  French  will  retire  to 
Savona,  Vado,  &c.  Ceva  and  Ormea  are  to  be 
the  two  places  attacked  by  them;  but  I  hope 
General  Beaulieu  on  his  passing  the  heights  of 
Vado,  may  find  an  opportunity  of  taking  them, 


288 

and  give  us  the  anchorage  of  Vado  Bay.  We 
are  on  the  best  terms  with  the  Genoese;  and 
as  far  as  a  private  communication  to  the  Secre- 
tary of  State,  through  Mr.  Brame,  they  are  cer- 
tain of  our  good  disposition  towards  them,  and 
of  our  sincere  wishesto  see  the  Republic  really 
enjoying  her  neutrality:  At  the  same  time,  I 
desired  Mr.  Brame  to  signify,  that  vessels,  to 
whatever  nation  they  belonged,  bound  to  France 
with  provisions  or  stores,  would  be  seized;  that 
I  wished  this  to  be  understood,  and  that  the 
seizures  of  vessels  belonging  to  Genoese  sub- 
jects, in  the  situation  alluded  to,  ought  not  to 
be  considered  as  hostile  to  the  Genoese  flag; 
for  all  other  nations  were  precisely  in  the  same 
situation.  To  this  the  Secretary  replied,  in  his 
private  character,  That  if  merchants  would  run 
the  risk,  it  rested  with  them,  and  that  he  did  not 
think  the  government  had  any  concern  in  it; 
that  he  should  acquaint  the  Doge  of  the  conver- 
sation, and  was  very  happy  to  see  me  here  with 
a  broad  pendant,  which  was  saluted.  The  Secre- 
tary was  full  of  praises  of  the  late  Austrian 
army;  not  a  sixpence  of  debt  had  been  left  be- 
hind, nor  an  individual  injured  by  their  stay 
in  the  Riviera;  contrasting  it  with  the  conduct 
of  the  French.  Salicetti  is  gone  from  Genoa. 

"  I  am  just  returned  on  board,  and  enclosed 
send  you  a  copy  of  my  note  which  is  gone  off 
by  express  to  General  Beaulieu.  The  Ministers 
of  the  Emperor,  and  King  of  Sardinia,  were 


289 

pleased  with  it;  and  I  hope  it  will  meet  with 
your  approbation  also.  I  have  found  from  ex- 
perience that  we  cannot  be  too  clear  with  these 
gentlemen,  and  I  am  determined  to  leave  no 
room  for  them  to  say,  We  thought  you  could  do  this 
thing,  or  the  other. 

Commodore  Nelsons  Note  to  General  Beaulieu. 
11  Does  General  Beaulieu  wish  the  English 
squadron  should  cruise  off  any  particular  point 
of  the  Coast,  whence  it  may  be  satisfactory  for 
the  General  to  see  it  from  the  mountains,  and  of 
course  be  discouraging  to  the  French  ? — It  would 
be  attended  with  this  risk,  That  calms,  or  contrary 
winds,  might  put  the  squadron  at  a  distance,  at 
the  time  General  Beaulieu  may  arrive  on  the 
coast:  would  the  General,  therefore,  rather  have 
us  remain  at  Genoa,  with  a  moral  certainty  of 
joining  him  in  ten,  or  twelve  hours,  after  the 
news  of  his  arrival  on  the  coast  is  sent  to  me? 

"Next  consideration:  If  General  Beaulieu 
sends  me  notice,  at  what  particular  time  and 
place  it  is  probable  he  may  attack  the  French,  in 
that  case  it  is  almost  certain  I  could  be  very  near 
at  hand,  and  act  as  opportunity  might  offer ;  for 
instance — suppose  the  attack  is  on  the  heights 
over  Savona ;  the  squadron,  if  the  weather  be 
moderate,  could  anchor  about  five  or  six  miles 
from  Savona,  instead  of  waiting  at  Genoa.  These 
considerations  are  submitted  to  General  Beaulieu, 
who  has  only  to  express  his  wishes  to  have  them 
as  far  as  is  possible,  complied  with." — Nctwith- 

u 


290 

standing  these  wise  precautions  on  the  part  of 
the  Commodore,    the  Austrian    attack    on    the 
enemy  did  not  answer,  as  he  could  have  wished; 
for  in  writing  to  Mr.  Drake,  April  11,    1796,  he 
said,   'It  had  been   well,    but  might  have  been 
better;  for  if  I  had  been  fully  acquainted  with 
the  movements  of  the  Army,  1  am  sure  not  many 
of  the  French  would  have  returned  to  Savona, 
our  ships  command  every  foot  of  the  road.   I  beg 
you  will  endeavour  to  impress  on  those  about  the 
General,  the  necessity  of  punctuality  in  a  joint 
operation  for  its  success  to  be  complete.     I  re- 
ceived yesterday  afternoon  at  five  o'clock,  a  note 
from  the  Baron  de  Malcamp,  to  tell  me,  that  the 
General  had  resolved  to  attack  the  French  at 
daylight  this  morning  and  on  the  right  of  Voltri: 
yet  by  the  Austrians  getting  too  forward  in  the 
afternoon,  a  slight  action  took  place,  and  during 
the  night  the  French  retreated.     My  movements 
I  kept  secret;  and,  after  the  shutting  of  the  gate, 
weighed  the  squadron  from  Genoa,   and  at  half 
past  nine  I  anchored  within  half  gun  shot  of  the 
Austrian  Camp,   sending  Diadern    and   Blanche 
to  anchor  between  Voltri  and  Savonna;  but  the 
French  were  aware  of  their  perilous  situation, 
and  passed  our  ships  in  the  night.     I  do  not  mean 
this  as  any  complaint,  but  to  shew  the  necessity 
of  punctuality  ;  for  had  the  Austrians  kept  back, 
very  few  of  the  French  could  have  escaped." 

(1796.)    The   age  of  the   Austrian    General, 
Field  Marshal  Beaulieu,  who  was  upwards  of  70, 


though,  as  Nelson  observes  in  one  of  his  letters, 
he  still  possessed  the  fire  of  youth,   which  for  a 
short  time  changed  the  character  of  the  Cam- 
paign, must  have  rendered  him  a  very  unequal 
match  to  the  enterprising  spirit  of  Buonaparte, 
who  had    scarcely  attained   his  26th  year:    his 
rapacious  love  of  plunder,  and  desperate  fortunes, 
made  him  prodigal  of  human  blood,  and  regard- 
less of  the  means  by  which  he  promoted  his  own 
views  and   the   wishes  of  his   republic,      Like 
Cataline, k  he  possessed  a  tongue  that  could  explain, 
and  a  hand  that  could  execute.     The  consequence 
was  another  defeat  of  the  Austrians,  whose  slow 
measures  were  ill  adapted  to  withstand  the  im- 
petuosity of  half  starved  soldiers,  led  on  by  suc4i 
a  General.     The  following  letters  from  Commo- 
dore Nelson  to  Mr.  Drake,  and  H.  R.  H.  the 
Duke  of  Clarence,  were  written  subsequent  to 
the  surrender  of  the  gallant  Count  de  Provera, 
and  to  the  noble  conduct  of  General  Beaulieu  at 
the  village  of  Dego.     The  letter  to  Mr.  Drake  is 
dated  April  22 :    after   noticing  the    disastrous 
events  that   had   taken  place,    the  Commodore 
adds,    I  cannot  learn  even  the  number  of  the 
Austrian  army,   nor  of  their  loss :  had  not  the 
General  troops  enough  ?  if  not,  it  is  lamentable 
indeed.     Sir  John  Jervis  only  waits  until  he  can, 
hear  something,  to  form  an  opinion  j  we  are  in 
total  ignorance.     The  French  have  reinforced 

*•  Cicero  in  Cat.  3,  J '. 
U  2 


292 

their  seamen  at  Toulon,  to  which  place  Sir  John 
Jervis  will  proceed  :  he  was  in  hopes  the  presence 
of  the  Fleet  might  have  been  of  service,  hut  if 
that  has  not  been  the  case,  he  is  better  away ; 
for  then  no  blame  can  be  attached  to  him.  You 
will  recollect  that  Admiral  Goodall  from  judg- 
ment and  myself  from  experience,  have  uni- 
formly held  out,  That  it  was  not  in  the  power  of 
our  large  ships  to  stop  this  coasting  business:  we 
must  have  a  point  of  land  to  act  from,  give  us 
that,  and  if  supplies  then  get  to  the  enemy,  ex- 
cept in  row-boats,  we  are  answerable.  I  was 
placed  in  the  Gulf,  to  meet  the  General  on 
the  sea-coast,  and  my  squadron  would  have  been 
risked  to  have  supported  him  ;  but  as  he  has  not 
been  able  to  get  to  the  coast,  do  not  let  us  be 
blamed.  I  wish  we  had  all  the  French  at  sea, 
there  as  yet  we  have  never  failed.' 

(1796.)  To  H.  R.  H.  the  Duke  of  Clarence. 
11  Sir,  I  wish  it  had  been  in  my  power  to  send 
your  Royal  Highness  a  good  account  of  the  open- 
ing of  the  Campaign  ;  but  as  the  news,  good  or 
bad,  must  be  known,  I  think  it  is  proper  for  me 
to  give  you  an  exact  relation  of  what  has  passed. 
I  shall  first  call  to  your  recollection  a  letter  of 
mhie,  during  the  winter,  wherein  I  told  you  that. 
I  was  informed  from  the  French  themselves,  they 
would  open  the  Campaign  with  80,000  men ;  and, 
by  the  first  of  May,  would  lay  siege  to  Turin,  or 
Milan.  I  shall  now  give  your  Royal  Highness  a 
brief  account  of  this  Campaign,  as  far  as  report 


293 

goes ;  for  we  have  no  official  information  from 
the  General. 

"On  Monday,  April  11,  the  Austrians  took 
possession  of  Voltri, l  with  10,000  men;  nearly 
300  of  the  enemy  were  killed,  wounded,  or  made 
prisoners.  About  4000  men  effected  their  retreat, 
from  the  attack  having  commenced  twelve  hours 
before  the  time  fixed  by  General  Beaulieu,  and 
previous  to  the  General's  arrival,  or  I  am  satis- 
fied not  a  Frenchman  could  have  escaped ;  and, 
by  what  has  followed,  the  disasters  commenced 
from  the  retreat  of  those  troops.  Our  ships  so 
entirely  commanded  the  road,  that  had  the 
General's  concerted  time  and  plan  been  attended 
to,  I  again  assert,  none  of  the  enemy  could  have 
escaped.  These  troops  retired  during  the  day 
and  night  of  the  llth,  to  Montenotte,  about 
eight  or  nine  miles  on  the  back  of  Savona,  wherfe 
the  enemy  had  about  2000  men  posted.  At  day- 
break General  Argenteau  attacked  this  post  with 
about  4000  men,  not  knowing  of  the  reinforce- 
ment. He  v/as  repulsed,  and  pursued  with  great 
loss;  900  Piedmontese  troops,  500  Austrians,  field 
pieces,  &c.  fell  into  the  enemy's  hands.  The 
killed  we  know  not,  but  it  was  hard  fought.  On 
the  13th  and  14th,  the  French  forced  the  jrorsres 

o      o 

of  Millesimo,  and  the  village  of  Dego,  which  were 
well  defended,  but  they  were  carried  by  superior 
numbers.  On  the  morning  of  the  15th,  the  Aus- 

1  Where  General  Cervoni  commanded. 


294 

trian  troops,  under  Colonel  Waskanovick,  posted 
at  Sassello  on  the  right  flank  and  rather  in  the 
rear  of  the  enemy,  or  as  we  should  say  on  the 
starboard  quarter,  attacked  the  enemy  at  Speigno, 
and  totally  routed  them ;  and  not  only  retook  the 
20  pieces  of  cannon  which  the  Austrians  had  lost, 
but  also  all  belonging  to  the  enemy:  When  un- 
:fortunately  the  Colonel  pursuing  his  advantage 
too  far,  fell  in  with  the  main  body  of  the  French, 
who  after  an  obstinate  resistance  of  four  hours, 
totally  defeated  him.  To  add  to  this  misfortune, 
General  Beaulieu  had  sent  five  battalions  from 
Acqui  to  support  this  brave  Colonel  Waskanovick; 
but  alas,  they  arrived  too  late,  and  added  to  the 
triumph  of  the  enemy. 

"  By  the  best  accounts  I  can  learn,  the  Aus- 
trians have  not  lost  less  than  10,000  men  killed, 
•wounded,  and  prisoners.  The  French  loss  has 
also  been  great,  but  they  can  better  spare  the 
men  than  the  Austrians.  General  Beaulieu  has 
now  withdrawn  all  his  troops  from  the  mountains, 
and  is  encamped  at  a  place  called  Boseo,  on  a 
plain  between  Xovi  and  Alessandria.  I  am  yet 
in  hopes,  if  the  French  attack  him  on  the  plain, 
he  may  still  get  on  by  giving  them  a  total  defeat. 
The  Austrians  seem  to  have  been  ruined  by  loss 
of  posts;  but  I  dare  say,  it  was  necessary  to  pos- 
sess them,  and  they  were  lost  owing  to  the  supe- 
rior numbers  of  the  enemy. 

"Genoa,  two  o'clock.  The  mails  are  just  ar- 
rived from  Milan,  and  I  rejoice  that  affairs  are 


295 

not  so  bad  as  was  reported.  General  Argenteau 
is  arrested,  and  sent  prisoner  to  Pavia  on  strong 
suspicion  of  treason.  Believe  me  ever  your 
Royal  Highness's  most  faithful  servant." 

Such  was  the  rapid  progress  of  the  French  in 
Italy,  under  the  command  of  Buonaparte.  What 
could  not  he  obtained  by  valour  and  discipline, 
was  secured  by  a  series  of  organised  treachery, 
falsehood,  and  corruption,  which  is  almost  with- 
out a  parallel  in  the  history  of  mankind.  The 
following  is  the  conclusion  of  one  of  those  decla- 
matory Orations,  which  it  was  the  custom  of  this 
French  General  to  deliver  to  his  soldiers,  after 
any  signal  success.  "  Nations  of  Italy !  Our 
Army  approaches  on  purpose  to  burst  your  fet- 
ters. France  is  the  friend  of  every  people.  Ap- 
proach our  standards  with  confidence.  Your 
Religion,  your  Property,  and  your  Customs  shall 
all  be  respected.  We  will  carry  on  War  like  ge- 
nerous Enemies ;  for  we  have  no  dispute  but  with 
the  Tyrants  who  keep  you  in  servitude." 

(179^.)  Commodore  Nelson  to  Admiral  Sir  J .  Jer- 
vis,  K.  B.  dated  Genoa,  Mole,  April  18.—"  Sir, 
By  the  time  I  sail,  I  will  make  myself  master  of 
the  exact  force  of  the  enemy  that  has  escaped 
us ;  report  says,  two  frigates  and  sixteen  trans- 
ports. They  may  be  alarmed  for  a  night  or  two, 
and  it  may  go  off:  if  you  therefore  think,  Sir, 
that  the  attempt  to  take  the  fiigates  and  trans- 
ports is  proper  by  boats,  I  beg  leave  to  offer  my- 
self for  that  distinguished  command.  The  barges 


296 

and  pinnaces  will  be  more  than  thirty.  I  think 
it  may  be  done ;  at  least,  if  you  approve  of  the 
measure,  nothing  shall  be  wanting  on  my  part  for 
its  complete  success.  My  idea  is,  for  ten  barges 
to  attack  each  frigate,  one  boat  to  be  especially 
appointed  with  a  most  confidential  officer,  to  cut 
the  cable  of  each  frigate,  if  the  wind  is  off  the 
land  in  ten  minutes  they  must  drive  out  of 
soundings,  and  ten  boats  would  be  left  for  the 
attack  of  the  transports.  I  should  wish  you,  Sir, 
to  consider  the  matter,  and  I  am  then  certain 
what  is  proper  will  be  done.  Tomorrow  evening, 
at  dark,  I  shall  sail  from  hence  and  will  be  with 
you  on  Wednesday  morning.  I  grieve  when  the 
French  have  any  good  fortune  by  sea. " — The  con- 
voy here  alluded  to  by  Commodore  Nelson,  got 
into  Vado  Bay  whilst  Sir  John  Jervis  was  off  that 
place  with  his  whole  Fleet.  In  consequence  of  the 
above  letter,  the  Admiral  sent  Captain  Cockburn 
.to  reconnoitre  the  position  of  these  French  fri- 
gates; but  when  the  Meleagcr  looked  into  Vado, 
it  appeared  that  the  enemy  had  escaped  under 
cover  of  the  preceding  night. 

The  supply  which  the  French  had  thus  gained, 
weighed  extremely  on  the  zealous  mind  of  Nel- 
son ;  and  this  had  been  increased  by  the  arrival 
of  fresh  supplies,  which  he  had  witnessed  whilst 
on  board  Sir  J.  Jervis's  ship,  and  described  on 
his  return,  in  a  letter  to  Mr.  Drake,  dated  Genoa 
Road,  April  19th.  "To  increase  my  measure  of 
sorrow,  a  number  of  vessels,  under  convoy  of 


297 

gun-boats,  got  into  Savona  Mole  and  Vado  Bay 
on  Sunday  evening.  I  was  on  board  tbe  Victory, 
and  saw  them  myself — pollacres,  brigs,  and  gal- 
leys. The  imperial  Minister,  and  Mr.  Nomis,  I 
believe,  fancy,  that  because  our  Fleet  saw  them, 
it  was  very  possible  for  us  to  stop  their  course : 
tbey  know  but  little  of  what  a  Fleet  can  do,  and 
therefore  they  are  in  some  measure  excusable. 

(179^.)  The  support  which  Commodore  Nelson 
so  invariably  received  from  his  Admiral,  and  the 
scope  which  thus  was  given  for  a  display  of  his 
great  abilities,   is  highly  honourable  to  the  cha- 
racter of  Sir  John  Jervis.     It  is  but  seldom  that 
humble  individuals  are  thus  allowed  a  preference, 
amidst  the  juggle  of  political  interests,  and  the 
claims  of  political   connexions.      Happy   is  the 
Country,  and  honourable  is  the  Service,  in  which 
such  a  wise  and  noble  conduct  can  long  be  perse- 
vered in.     The  following  letter  to  Mrs.  Nelson 
describes    the    effect   which  such   conduct  had 
on  the  feelings  of  her  husband,  dated  Gulf  of 
Venice,  April  24.     "  You  will  be  informed,  from 
my  late  letters,   that  Sir  J.  Jervis  has  such  an 
opinion   of  my  conduct,   that  he  is  using  every 
influence,   both  public   and  private,    with  Lord 
Spencer  for  my  continuance  on  this  station;   and 
I  am  certain  you  must  feel  the  superior  pleasure 
of  knowing,  that  my  integrity  and  plainness  of 
conduct  are  the  cause  of  my  being  kept  from 
you;  to  the  receiving  me  as  a  person,  whom  no 
Commander  in  Chief  would  wish  to  keep  under 


.  298 

his  flag.  Sir  John  was  a  perfect  stranger  to  me, 
therefore  I  feel  the  more  flattered;  and  when  I 
reflect  that  I  have  had  the  unbounded  confidence 
of  three  Commanders  in  Chief,  I  cannot  but  feel 
a  conscious  pride,  and  that  I  possess  abilities, 
Rest  assured,  my  dearest  Fanny,  of  my  unabated 
and  steady  Affection,  which,  if  possible,  is  in- 
creasing by  that  propriety  of  conduct  which 
you  pursue. 

( 1 796- )  Commodore  Nelson  to  Admiral  Sir  John 
Jercis,  dated  off  Loano,  ^prilQ5. — "This  morning 
having  received  information,  that  a  convoy  laden 
Vrith  stores  for  the  French  army  had  anchored  at 
Loano,  I  lost  no  time  in  proceeding  off  that  place 
with  the  ships  named  in  the  margin.  m  On  my 
approach,  I  was  sorry  to  observe  that  instead  of 
a  Convoy,  only  four  vessels  were  lying  under  the 
batteries;  which  opened  on  our  nearing  them, 
and  the  fire  was  returned  as  our  ships  got  up, 
under  cover  of  which  our  boats  boarded  the  four 
vessels  and  brought  them  off;  but  these  vessels 
lying  very  near  the  shore,  a  heavy  fire  of  mus- 
quetry  was  kept  up  on  our  boats,  and  it  is  with 
the  greatest  grief  I  have  to  mention,  that  Lieu- 
tenant James  Noble  of  the  Agamemnon,  a  most 
worthy  and  gallant  officer,  is  I  fear  mortally 
wounded." 

Captain  George  Cockburn  was  on  the  same 
$ay  despatched  with  the  four  prizes  to  Leghorn, 

»'  Meleager,  Diadem,  PeterclJ. 


299 

with  orders  to  rejoin  the  Commodore  as  soon  as 
possible.  Sir  John  Jervis  transmitted  this  offi- 
cial communication  to  the  Admiralty  on  the  1 1th 
of  May,  and  expressed  the  satisfaction  which  he 
felt  in  having  an  Officer  of  such  zeal,  and  local 
knowledge,  in  the  important  station  which  the 
Commodore  occupied. 

(1796.)  Amidst  the  general  wreck  of  the  Con- 
tinent of  Italy,  which  was  now  daily  increased, 
the  unhappy  situation  of  the  good  King  of  Sardi- 
nia particularly  merits  attention.  Surrounded  by 
treachery,  and  insulted  by  an  enemy  who  framed 
mischief  as  it  were  by  a  ]a\v9  this  aged  Sovereign 
was  at  times  even  disposed  to  doubt  the  sincerity 
of  his  real  friends.  And  whilst  he  possessed  proofs, 
as  he  assured  one  of  our  foreign  Ministers,  that 
a  British  Admiral  had  in  a  preceding  Century  been 
withdrawn  from  his  duty  by  a  bribe,  his  Majesty 
did  not  so  implicitly  rely,  as  he  ought  to  have 
done,  on  the  honour  of  the  English  character. 
Commodore  Nelson  in  writing  to  Sir  John  Jervis 
on  the  26th  of  April,  and  first  of  May,  noticed 
that  consequent  want  of  firmness  which  the  Court 
of  Turin  displayed,  and  thus  concluded: 

"  I  have  thus,  Sir,  got  to  the  end  of  our  naval 
business,  and  shall  therefore  now  take  up  the  ac- 
count of  the  proceedings  of  General  Beaulieu, 
and  the  Sardinians,  where  Mr.  Drake  leaves  off. 
The  treaty  is  finished,  and  an  armistice  is  agreed 
on,  until  the  return  of  the  courier  from  Paris.  I 


300  , 

never  had  much  faith  in  the  Sardinian  Ministers, 
alter  their  extraordinary  request  to  me  last  year, 
and  I  much  fear  they  have  not  done  their  utmost 
to  defend  Piedmont,  and  the  French  seem  to  have 
understood  them.  Neither  Ceva,  nor  the  strong 
posts,  were  then  taken,  as  I  sent  you  word  in  a 
former  letter,  nor  are  they  to  this  day.  Twenty 
thousand  French  pushed  forward  to  within  six 
miles  of  Turin  :  General  Beaulieu  advancing  with 
celerity  from  Acqui,  was  on  one  side  of  the  plain, 
and  next  day  would  have  attacked  the  French 
army.  The  French  had  already  begun  to  retreat, 
when  an  express  reached  him  that  an  armistice, 
and  most  prohahly  a  peace,  had  taken  place  be- 
tween the  Sardinians  and  French.  Mr.  Trevor, 
•with  the  Imperial,  Neapolitan,  and  Russian  Mi- 
nisters, waited  on  the  King,  to  desire  that  Ales- 
sandria and  Tortona  might  be  delivered  up  to  the 
Germans,  which  was  peremptorily  refused  :  upon 
this  the  Ministers  quitted  the  kingdom,  without 
taking  leave,  and  it  is  very  probable  we  have  now 
an  additional  enemy.  General  Eeaulieu  is  re- 
treating, I  am  told,  towards  the  Milanese  ;  but 
how  far  he  has  fallen  back,  I  do  not  hear.  The 
French  near  Acqui  are  very  ill  supplied,  and  the 
convoy  expected  is  of  the  greatest  importance  to 
their  future  operations;  I  am  told  if  it  does  not 
reach  them,  they  must  come  again  to  the  sea 
coast.  I  learn  with  pleasure  that  we  knocked  to 
pieces  the  largest  of  the  batteries  at  Loano,  and 
Julled  25  French  in  it.  The  place  is  also  very 


301 

much  damaged,  which  I  regret ;  but  these  things 
must  happen  where  batteries  are  situated  in  a 
town.  I  have  authorised  Mr.  Brame  to  declare, 
should  any 'conversation  Avith  the  Secretary  of 
State  here  turn  that  way,  that  I  will  never  fire 
the  first  shot;  and,  therefore,  if  the  inhabitants 
of  the  Genoese  towns  prevent  the  French  from 
firing,  which  they  can  do  if  they  please,  their 
towns  are  safe;  if  they  do  not,  the  act  rests  with 
them,  P.  S.  I  have  great  pleasure  in  saying  my 
poor  Lieutenant,  Noble,  is  still  alive,  and  we  have 
some  hopes. — May  2.  General  Beaulieu's  army 
has  taken  post  at  Valenza,  and  between  that  place 
and  Alessandria.  The  King  of  Sardinia,  if  the 
Convention  ratifies  the  treaty,  is  to  give  up 
Cuneo  and  Alessandria,  some  say  Suza;  the  lat- 
ter place,  I  believe,  as  security  for  his  punctual 
adherence  to  the  treaty.  I  have  written  to  Mr. 
Drake  what  I  have  desired  Mr.  Brame  to  say. . ." 
"As  this,"  added  he  in  writing  to  Sir  J.  Jervis, 
"should  be  the  language  of  the  Secretary  of  State 
here,  can  he  for  a  moment  fancy  that  I  will  re- 
ceive shot  and  shells  from  every  part  of  the  coast, 
and  not  consider  it  as  a  hostile  one?  This  indeed 
he  may  be  assured  of,  that  I  never  have,  nor  ever 
will  fire  the  first  shot ;  but  if  shot  are  fired,  I  will 
do  my  utmost  to  destroy  the  batteries  firing  at 
the  English  flag,  although,  in  doing  this,  I  shall 
guard  as  much  as  possible  against  injuring  any 
individual  Genoese,  a  Nation  which  I  respect  on 
manv  accounts.  The  Secretary  however  must 


302 

be  sensible,  that  the  fire  of  cannon  once  opened, 
is  terrible  to  a  town." 

(1796.)  The  spirit  with  which  Sir  John  Jervis 
resisted  these  continual  Insults  of  the  Italians, 
appears,  amongst  other  documents,  from  the  fol- 
lowing letter,  sent  by  that  Admiral,  to  the  Hon. 
W.  F.  Wyndham,  dated,  Victory,  off  Toulon,  5th 
of  May.  "  Sir,  I  very  much  admire  the  manner, 
in  which  your  Excellency  has  treated  the  subject 
of  the  outrage  committed  upon  his  Majesty'* 
colours,  within  the  limits  of  the  port  of  Leghorn, 
and  I  have  read  with  indignation  the  language 
held  by  the  Tuscan  Minister.  I  have,  in  addi- 
tion, to  complain  of  two  flagrant  violations  of 
the  Neutrality,  which  ought  to  subsist  between 
the  two  Courts,  in  the  fort  at  Leghorn  having 
fired  shot  at  his  ?vlajesty's  ship  la  Minerve,  and  a 
transport  under  her  convoy,  and  at  his  Majesty's 
sloops,  1'Eclair,  Vanneau,  and  the  Fox  cutter. 
After,  having  pledged  my  word  of  honour,  to  the 
late  Governor  Serrati,  that  I  would  be  answerable 
for  the  conduct  of  his  Majesty's  ships  under  my 
command,  I  little  expected  so  soon  to  have  heard 
of  an  insult,  bordering  on  hostility,  committed 
against  the  British  nation,  not  to  be  endured 
for  a  moment.  The  crew  of  ITIorrible  are,  I 
conceive,  to  be  considered  as  pirates  to  all  in- 
tents and  purposes,  and  to  be  tried  as  such:  if 
there  were  any  consistency  in  the  French  go- 
vernment, the  Minister  of  that  republic  at  Flo- 
rence would  be  the  first  to  demand  it.  There 


303 

being  no  tribunal  in  Tuscany  competent  to  the 
decision  of  an  act  of  piracy,  I  can  scarcely  be-r 
lieve — because  the  law  of  nations  upon  a  crime 
so  destructive  to  commerce  and  navigation,  13 
equally  binding  on  all  civilized  Countries.  I 
request  your  Excellency  will  have  the  goodness 
to  make  the  strongest  remonstrances  against 
these  unjustifiable  proceedings." 

(1796.)  The  Commodore  left  Genoa  on  the  3d 
of  May,  and  on  the  next  day  joined  the  Blanche, 
and  the  Meleager  also  arrived  from  Leghorn.  In 
a  letter  on  the  8th  to  his  Admiral  he  said,  "  Yes- 
terday evening  we  chased  into  Loano  a  French 
gun-boat,  two  light  brigs,  and  one  deep  one, 
they  came  last  from  the  anchorage  at  Alassio; 
but  we  are  rather  inclined  to  believe  they  sailed 
at  first  from  Vado:  it  fell  stai>k  calm,  as  we 
got  within  shot,  and  dark.  Several  shot  struck 
the  Blanche,  and  one  a  hot  one,  which  set  her  on 
fire,  but  we  soon  got  the  shot  cut  out,  and  towed 
off;  her  sails  and  rigging  were  also  cut,  but  not 
a  man  was  killed  or' wounded.  With  our  general 
good  luck,  not  a  shot  struck  us,  and  only  one 
gun  was  fired  from  the  squadron ;  we  were  long 
gun  shot  distant,  and  it  would  have  been  merely 
a  waste  of  powder  and  shot.  The  enemy  have  ' 
at  least  500  men  at  work  building  a  new  battery, 
and  I  am  waiting  for  a  good  wind  to  get  at 
them,  when  I  shall  fully- expect  the  deep  laden 
brig. 

"Two  brigs,  and  several  tartans,  having  got 


304 

into  Finale,  which  we  supposed  to  he  French, 
J  took  the  opportunity  of  the  enemy's  fancying 
we  were  looking  at  them,  to  send  the  boats  of 
the  squadron,  under  Lieutenants  Culverhouse, 
Compton  and  Drummond,  belonging  to  Melea- 
ger,  Agamemnon,  and  Peterell,  and  also  Lieu- 
tenant Grant  of  the  Blanche,  to  cut  out  the 
vessels  at  Finale;  which  they  did  without  a 
person  in  the  town,  or  vessels,  knowing  it:  but 
they  were  all  Genoese,  and  I  released  them  this 
morning,  sending  a  note  to  the  Governor  of 
Finale,  which  I  trust  can  do  no  harm  and  may 
be  of  some  use  to  us.' 

To  t lie  same,  dated  Leghorn  Roads,  May  18. — I 
have  felt,  and  do  feel,  Sir,  every  degree  of 
sensibility,  and  gratitude,  for  your  kind  and 
flattering  attention,  in  directing  me  to  hoist  a 
distinguishing  pendant;  but  as  the  service,  for 
which  it  was  intended  to  be  useful,  is  nearly,  if 
not  quite  at  an  end,  I  assure  you  I  shall  have 
no  regret  in  striking  it;  for  it  will  afford  me  an 
opportunity  of  serving  nearer  your  flag,  and  of 
endeavouring  to  shew  by  my  attention  in  a 
subordinate  station,  that  I  was  not  unworthy  of 
commanding.  Reports  are  afloat  that  a  Promo- 
tion is  certainly  very  near;  and,  if  so,  the  Ad- 
miralty will  either  direct  my  flag  to  be  hoisted 
here,  or  I  shall  have  a  land  voyage. 

"I  must  now,  dear  Sir,  take  the  liberty  of 
saying  a  word  respecting  my  health.  It  cer- 
tainly is  not  bad,  on  the  contrary  I  believe  it 


303 

is  better  than  \vhat  medical  people  assert;  but, 
I  believe,  a  little  rest  and  the  baths  of  Pisa, 
the  same  nearly  as  those  of  Bath,  would  render 
me  great  benefit.  If  I  could  without  any  im- 
pediment to  the  service,  take  twenty  days  to 
fit  me  for  another  winter,  I  should  not  dislike 
it;  and  yet,  perhaps,  I  shall  do  without  it. — I  do 
not  much  like  what  I  have  written." 

( 1 796  )  In  a  letter  to  Mrs.  Nelson,  on  the  20th 
of  May,  from  Leghorn,  he  mentioned  with  his 
usual  gratitude,  a  relation  who  had  shewn  him 
a  most  generous  and  marked  attention.  "This 
may  possibly  find  you  at  Mr.  Suckling's;"  if  so, 
I  beg  you  will  say  every  kind  thing  for  me. 
We  are  certainly  under  greater  obligations  to 
him,  than  to  any  one,  he  is  a  good  man,  and 
a  respectable  character. — If  I  am  ordered  to  hoist 
my  flag  in  this  country,  the  compliment  is  great ; 
and  therefore  we  must  both  rest  contented  for 
a  little  time.  The  French  must  soon  be  tired, 
and  I  believe  all  our  Allies  are  so  already.  The 
Dukes  of  Parma,  and  of  Modena,  have  both 
made  treaties  with  the  French,  paying  large 
sums  of  money;  and,  in  their  treaties,  it  is  spe- 
cified that  certain  pictures  are  to  be  delivered 
to  be  sent  to  Paris.  The  palace  of  the  Louvre 
is  to  have  the  finest  gallery  of  pictures  in  the 

n  The  late  Mr.  William  Suckling,  of  the  Custom  House,  then 
residing  at  Kentish  Town,  brother  to  Captain  Maurice  Suckling, 
R.  N.  died  at  the  close  of  the  year  179§- 

X 


306 

world.  The  Pope  has  offered  ten  millions  of 
crowns  to  prevent  their  coming  to  Rome;  and 
it  it  said  they  have  refused  it,  unless  the  famous 
statue  of  the  Apollo  Belvidere  is  sent  to  Paris. 
What  a  race  of  people!  hut  they  have  done 
wonders.  Reinforcements  are  coming  to  join 
General  Beaulieu;  and  the  inhahitants  of  the 
Tyrol,  a  hardy  and  warlike  nation,  are  rising  to 
join  the  General.  If  all  the  states  of  Italy  make 
peace,  we  have  nothing  to  look  to  but  Corsica; 
which,  in  the  present  state  of  its  inhabitants,  is 
not,  in  rny  opinion,  an  object  to  keep  us  in  the 
Mediterranean:  we  shall,  I  hope,  quit  it,  and 
employ  our  Fleet  more  to  our  advantage/' 

(1795.)  When  writing  to  Sir  John  Jervis,  May 
30,  he  tbus  noticed  the  arrival  of  an  officer,  who 
afterwards  served  so  long  with  him.  "  Lieu- 
tenant Berry  joined  me  in  the  Comet,  and  I 
have  as  far  as  I  have  seen,  every  reason  to  be 
satisfied  with  him,  both  as  a  gentleman  and  an 
officer.  I  had  a  few  days  ago  a  plan  for  taking 
the  French  brig  of  war  out  of  Vado,  and  in- 
trusted the  execution  of  it  to  him  :  it  miscarried 
from  an  unforeseen  and  improbable  event,  but 
I  was  much  pleased  by  Mr.  Berry's  strict  atten- 
tion to  my  instructions. 

"The  Meleager  joined  me  yesterday,  and  I 
send  you,  Sir,  all  the  letters  and  information 
received  by  her.  Mr.  Trevor  seems  to  think  a 
Spanish  war  is  almost  unavoidable,  and  that  the 
French,  after  all  their  protestations,  will  take. 


,    so? 

possession  of  Leghorn.  My  mind  is  clear,  if 
they  have  force  to  penetrate  further  into  Italy, 
they  will  possess  themselves  of  that  place.  The 
Toulon  information  is,  as  J  always  thought, 
pleasant  to  know,  but  never  to  be  depended 
upon;  all  is  guess,  they  may  go  east,  west, 
north,  or  south.  These  Commissioners  know 
nothing,  they  write  a  history  to  get  money,  and 
in  this  I  fancy  they  succeed  wonderfully  well. 
I  hope  to  hear  from  Mr.  Drake  of  the  actual 
situation  of  the  Armies,  and  if  he  has  hopes: 
should  he  have  none  (for  he  will  have  them,  if 
within  probability,  however  distant)  I  shall  not 
have  the  smallest." 

(1796.)  On  May  31,  Commodore  Nelson's  squa- 
dron gained  additional  honour  by  the  capture  of  a 
valuable  convoy  of  arms,  intrenching  tools,  and 
ammunition,  which  had  been  sent  to  Buonaparte 
for  carrying  on  the  siege  of  Mantua.  The  fol- 
lowing is  the  official  account  which  the  Commo- 
dore sent  to  Sir  John  Jervis,  dated  June  1,  off 
Oneglia.  "Sir,  At  two  P.  M.  yesterday,  seeing 
six  sail  running  along  shore,  which  I  believed  to 
be  French,  and  knowing  the  great  consequen-ce 
of  intercepting  the  cannon  and  ordnance  stores 
that  I  had  information  were  expected  from  Tou- 
lon, to  be  landed  at  S.  Pier  d'Arena  for  the  Siege 
of  Mantua,  I  made  the  signal  for  a  general 
chace,  when  the  vessels  hoisted  French  colours 
and  anchored  close  under  a  battery.  I  directed 
Captain  Cockburn  of  the  Meleager  to  lead  me 

x  2 


in,  which  he  did- in  a  most  officerlike  manner, 
and  at  three  o'clock  the  Meleager,  and  Agamem- 
non, anchored  in  less  than  four  fathoms  water, 
as  did  soon  afterwards  the  Peterell  and  Speedy. 
After  a  short  resistance  from  the  battery,  and 
vessels,   we  took  possession  of  them.     It  is  im- 
possible I   can   do  justice   to   the   alacrity   and 
gallantry  ever   conspicuous  in    my   little  squa- 
dron:   Our  boats   boarded   the   national  ketch, 
the  Commodore  of  the  convoy,  in  the  fire  of 
three  eighteen-pounders,  and  one  eighteen-poun- 
der  in  a  gun-boat.     The  Blanche  and  Diadem 
being  to  leeward,  the  former  could  not  anchor 
until  the  vessels  had  struck;  but  the  boats  of 
all  the  ships  were  active  in  getting  the  prizes 
off  the  shore,  the  enemy  having  cut  their  cables 
when  they  surrendered.     A  smart  fire  of  mus- 
quetry  \vas  kept  up  from  the  shore  during  the 
whole  of  this  service.     The  Agamemnon's  masts, 
sails,   and   rigging,   are  a  little  cut,   but  of  no 
material  consequence. 

"  Much  as  I  feel  indebted  to  every  Officer  in 
the  squadron,  yet  I  cannot  omit  the  mention  of 
the  great  support,  and  assistance,  I  have  ever 
received  from  Captain  Cockburn,  who  has  been 
nearly  a  year  under  my  command  on  this  sta- 
tion; and  I  should  feel  myself  guilty  of  neglect 
of  duty,  were  I  not  to  represent  his  zeal,  ability, 
and  courage,  which  are  conspicuous  on  every 
occasion  that  offers.  Enclosed  I  transmit  you 
a  list  of  the  killed  and  wounded,  and  of  the 
vessels  taken." 


Sir  John  Jervis  transmitted  this  letter  to  the 
Admiralty,  on  the  8th  of  June,  1796,  when  off 
Toulon,  and  added,  "Their  Lordships  are  so 
thoroughly  acquainted  with  the  vigilance  and 
enterprise  of  Commodore  Nelson,  that  I  forbear 

to  repeat  his  merits." 

.  . 

In  writing  afterwards  to  Sir  John  Jervis,  Cap- 
tain Nelson  said,  "In  my  public  letter  it  was 
impossible  to  enumerate  every  individual;  but 
next  to  Captain  Cockburn,  stands  Captain  Stuart 
of  the  Peterell;  Spicer0  commanded  the  boats 
which  first  boarded  the  ketch,  under  the  heavy 
fire,  and  had  a  little  skirmish  when  on  board, 
and  to  him  the  Commander  surrendered." 

(1796>.)  The  grateful  manner  in  which  the  affec- 
tionate disposition  of  Nelson  expressed  his  obli- 
gations to  his  Commanding  Officer,  and  his  rigid 
determination  to  remain  afloat  notwithstanding 
a  most  painful  indisposition,  are  expressed  in  a 
letter  dated  June  3.  "I  feel  obligations  to  you 
on  every  occasion,  since  I  have  had  the  pleasure 
of  serving  under  your  command;  and  I  endea- 
vour by  an  assiduous  attention  to  my  duty,  to 
merit  the  continuance  of  your  good  opinion.  I 
shall  not  go  to  Pisa  at  present,  we  may  be  useful 
here;  and,  to  say  the  truth,  when  I  am  actively 
employed,  I  am  not  so  bad.  My  complaint  is  as 

*  The  following  officers,  as  appears  from  some  memoranda, 
were  at  this  time  Lieutenants  of  the  Agamemnon,  1.  Berry, 
2.  Spicer,  3.  Suckling,  4.  Summers.  5.  Noble,  6.  Cpmpton. 


310 

if  a  girth  were  buckled  taut  over  my  breast,  and 
my  endeavour,  in  the  night,  is  to  get  it  loose, 
If  the  service  will  admit  of  it,  I  shall,  perhaps, 
at  a  future  day  take  your  leave.  1  wish,  Sir, 
that  Captain  Cockburn  had  the  Minerve;  he  is 
worthy  of  her,  or  a  better  ship.  My  poor  soldier 
officer  (Lieutenant  Pearson)  wishes  much  to  go 
with  me;  if  it  be  possible,  pray  indulge  us." 

An  apprehension  which  the  Commodore  some- 
times indulged,  in  those  moments  of  depression 
which  the  great  exertions  both  of  his  mind  and 
body  produced,  was  the  painful  idea,  that  having 
been  so  long  in  the  Mediterranean,  in  an  old 
and  worn  out  ship,  he  should  be  removed  from 
serving  under  the  flag  of  an  Admiral,  who  had 
shewn  him  such  attention.  Whilst  in  this  state 
of  mind,  he  received  one  of  those  encouraging 
and  flattering  letters  from  Sir  J.Jervis,  which 
never  fail  to  impart  additional  energy  to  a 
zealous  and  ingenuous  mind.  Nelson's  answer 
is  dated  Fiorenzo,  June  4,  1796,  "I  feel  highly 
flattered  by  your  desire  to  have  me  to  continue 
to  serve  under  your  command,  which  I  own 
would  afford  me  infinite  satisfaction;  and  I  there- 
fore beg  leave  to  propose  some  measures,  that 
may  still  give  me  that  pleasure. 

"The  first  is,  although  the  Agamemnon  can 
certainly  remain  in  this  country  for  the  next 
three  months,  she  must  be  in  England  before 
the  winter.  Another  is,  that  if  a  sixty-four  is 
ordered  to  go,  although  Diadem  is  certainly  in 


311 

better  plight  than  Agamemnon,  yet  in  point  of 
sailing  she  is  much  inferior.  The  third  is,  if 
you  really  think  that  the  Admiralty  will  order 
my  Flag  to  be  hoisted  in  this  country,  that  you 
would  direct  me  to  hoist  my  pendant  on  board 
any  ship  you  judge  proper.  You  will  easily  per- 
ceive that  my  wishes  to  stay  are  sincere;  were 
they  not,  after  your  kindness  to  me,  I  should 
be  ungrateful. 

June  5th.  I  am  not,  Dear  Sir,  less  anxious 
than  yesterday,  for  having  slept  since  my  last 
letter: — indeed  I  cannot  bear  the  thoughts  of 
leaving  your  command.  You  have  placed  an 
unbounded  confidence  in  me,  and,  1  own,  I  feel 
that  no  exertion  of  mine  has  been  wanting  for 
a  moment,  to  merit  so  great  an  honour." 

(1796.)  Amidst  the  excesses  and  cruelty  which 
the  French  at  this  time  committed,  it  was  their 
custom  to  sell  their  Austrian  prisoners  to  the 
Spaniards,  who  transported  some  of  these  wretch- 
ed victims  to  their  mines  in  South  America,  and 
selected  the  best  for  recruits.  This  outrage  to, 
all  humanity,  was  also  noticed  by  the  Comman- 
der in  Chief,  Sir  John  Jervis,  in  the  following 
letter  to  Lord  Bute:  "The  French  commis- 
sioners, on  the  coast  of  Genoa,  make  a  practice 
of  selling  the  Austrian  prisoners  to  the  agents 
for  recruiting  the  Spanish  army.  Commodore 
Nelson  has  fortunately  had  an  opportunity  of 
incontestably  proving  the  fact,  and  was  suppli- 
cated by  the  aforementioned  agents  not  to  re- 


312 

port  upon  it.     But  lie  has  my  orders,  to  make 
an   exact   representation   of    the   case   to    the 
General    commanding    the   Austrian    army    in 
Italy,  and  a  formal  complaint  may  be   expected 
shortly  from   the   Court  of  Vienna  to   that  of 
Madrid." — In   another   letter   to   Mr.  Jackson, 
Secretary  of  Legation  at  Turin,  Sir  John  Jervi* 
added :   (<  From  a  Swiss  dealer  in  human  flesh, 
the  demand  made  upon  me  to  deliver  up  152 
Austrian  grenadiers,   serving  on  board  his  Ma- 
jesty's   Fleet    under    my   command,    is    natural 
enough;    hut  that   a  Spaniard  who    is  a   nohle 
creature,  should  join  in  such  a  demand,  I  must 
confess  astonishes  me;  and  I  can   only  account 
for  it,  by  the  Chevalier  Caamano  being  ignorant, 
that  the  persons  in  question  were  made  prisoners 
of  war  in  the  last  affair  of  General  Beaulicu,  and 
are  not  deserters,  and  that  they  were  most  basely 
and  inhumanly  sold  by  the  J7 rench  commissaries, 
in  the  western  Riviera  of  Genoa,   to  the  vile 
crimps  who  recruit  for  the  foreign  regiments  in 
the  service  of  Spain.      It  is  high  time  a  stop 
should  be  put  to  this  abominable  traffic,  a  million 
times  more  disgraceful  than   the  African  slave 
trade;    and   I    trust   the   strong   remonstrances 
about  to  be  made  by  the  Court  of  Vienna,  to 
the  Court  of  Madrid,  will  produce  the  desired 
effect,     In  the  mean  while,   I  request  you  will 
make  my   acknowledgments   to   Mr.  Wickham, 
for  the  judicious  manner  in  which  he  treated 


313 

the    subject,    in    his   correspondence   with   the 
Chevalier  Caamano."p 

The  sanguine  mind  of  the  Commodore  re- 
ceived, whilst  at  St.  Fiorenzo,  the  completion 
of  his  wishes;  and,  on  the  9th  of  June,  he  thus 
expressed  to  the  Admiral  the  satisfaction  which 
his  kindness  had  afforded:  I  rejoice,  my  dear  Sir, 
not  a  little,  at  the  certainty  of  remaining  under 
your  Command:  four  hours  will  change  all  my  mat- 
ters, and  I  am  very  anxious  to  resume  my  station. 

XVI.  He  also  took  an  early  opportunity  to  send 
home  intelligence  of  this  mark  of  favour  with 
his  Commander;  which  gratified  Nelson  the 
more,  from  his  knowing  that  so  many  Officers 
were  then  moving  all  their  interest  to  be  sent 
out  to  the  Mediterranean.  The  following  is 
the  first  letter  that  was  written  after  leaving 
his  old  ship  the  Agamemnon,  dated  Captain,  at 
sea,  June  13.  "You  will  see,  my  dear  Fanny, 
by  the  date  of  this  letter,  that  I  have  at  last 
left  poor  old  Agamemnon.  Whether  it  is  right 
or  wrong,  time  must  determine.  I  have  re- 
mained in  a  state  of  uncertainty  for  a  week ;  and 
had  the  corn  ships  which  were  momentarily 
expected  from  Naples,  arrived,  I  should  have 
sailed  for  England.  The  Admiral  has  on  every 
occasion  behaved  with  the  greatest  attention  to 

P  The  communication  from  Commodore  Nelson, 'which  Sir  J. 
Jervis  noticed,  when  writing  to  Lord  Bute,  as  incontestably 
proving  this  nefarious  traffic,  is  dated  June  5, 1/96.  See  Quarto 
idit.  Vol.  1.  Page  289. 


314 

me;  and,  if  I  am  to  serve,  it  is  better  I  should 
serve  in  this  country,  where  I  am  known  and 
respected,  than  to  take  my  chance  hy  being  sent 
home  and  ordered  to  another  station. 

On  Jun«  19th,  the  Commodore  commenced 
his  correspondence  with  Colonel  Graham,  re- 
specting the  operations  of  the  allied  Armv  .r.d 
such  communications  as  he  wished  to  make  to 
General  Beaulieu;  and  on  the  20th,  according 
to  Sir  John  Jervis'  directions,  he  also  began  a 
confidential  correspondence  with  Mr.  Graves  at 
Rome,  on  such  subjects  as  came  within  the  limits 
of  the  command  between  Toulon  and  Genoa. 
.  In  a  letter  to  Captain  Locker  of  the  same 
date,  June  20th,  Nelson  informed  him,  that,  on 
Captain  Sutton's  declining  to  go  home  in  the 
Egmont,  he  stood  for  England  in  the  Agamem- 
non for  more  than  a  week;  however,  when  it 
was  known  in  the  Fleet  that  the  Egmont  did  not 
return,  many  wished  to  go,  and  the  Commander 
of  the  Captain  being  in  a  bad  state  of  health, 
had  the  preference:  "I  left  Sir  J.  Jervis,"  adds 
the  Commodore,  "  yesterday  off  Toulon,  in  good 
healtfy  and  spirits,  he  most  particularly  desired 
me  to  make  his  kindest  remembrances  to  you, 
and  to  say,  he  had  not  a  moment  to  spare  from 
the  constant  correspondence  he  is  obliged  to 
continue;  for  our  ministers  at  all  the  Italian 
ports  are  constantly  writing.  As  to  news,  the 
armies  of  the  French  so  far  outnumber  General 
Beaulieu,  that  he  has  been  obliged  to  retreat 


315 

into  the  Tyrol." — It  may  be  herb  observed,  that 
notwithstanding  the  numbers  of  the  French  Army 
and  its  skill,  it  awed  still  more  to  that  series  of 
bribery  and  treachery,  which  gradually  became 
established  into  a  Military  System:  "  It  is  well 
known,"  says  apolitical  writer,  "  that  Buonaparte 
one  day  incautiously  declared,  That  the  Austrian 
army  cost  him  more  than  his  own" q 

(17S6.)  On  the  23d  of  June,  Commodore 
Nelson  sent  the  following  letter  to  his  Admiral: 
*'  The  complaints  of  the  Genoese  government 
are  so  ridiculous,  tlvit  I  hardly  know  what  to 
say:  if  we  are  to  allow  the  free  passage  of  the 
Enemy  coast  ways,  we  are  useless.  The  best  mode, 
in  my  opinion,  is  to  speak  openly — that  so  long 
as  the  French  are  in  possession  of  batteries  on  the 
coasf,  which  fire  on  our  ships,  so  long  we  shall  consi- 
der it  as  an  enemy's  coast.  I  have  the  pleasure  to 
declare,  our  conduct  has  so  completely  alarmed 
the  French,  that  all  their  coasting  trade  is  at  an 
end;  even  the  corvettes,  gun-boats,  &c.  which 
were  moored  under  the  fortresses  of  Vado,  have 
not  thought  themselves  in  security,  but  are  all 
gone  into  Savona  Mole,  and  have  unbent  their 
sails." 

These  Complaints  being  afterwards  officially 
presented  against  the  Commodore,  in  a  most 
illiberal  manner,  he  felt  himself  obliged  in 
lionour  to  answer  them  to  his  Admiral,  June  (25th, 
(l  I  send  you,  my  dear  Sir,  a  full  reply  to 

<j  Nouveau  Interets  de  I'Enrope. 


316 

three  complaints  of  the  Genoese  Secretary  of 
State,  a  copy  of  which  I  have  also  enclosed  for 
Mr.  Drake,  that  he  may  answer  the  government 
of  Genoa,  if  he  thinks  it  right.  The  Genoese 
can  only  ma*ke  these  complaints  to  please  the 
French;  but  I  cannot  think  it  right,  that  we  are 
to  be  traduced  to  please  any  Nation  on  earth.'* 
In  this  Statement"  the  Commodore  entered  into 
a  long  and  necessary  detail  of  facts;  and  repelled, 
with  his  wonted  ability,  the  uncandid  accusations 
which  the  Genoese  government  had  preferred 
against  him  to  Lord  Grenville,  without  affording 
the  Commodore  an  opportunity,  as  he  declared, 
of  refuting,  or  even  explaining  his  conduct:  A 
measure,  added  he,  which  I  consider  as  tending,  in  a 
certain  degree,  to  injure  my  character,  by  the  possi- 
bility of  an  impression  remaining  on  the  mind  of  my 
Sovereign,  of  my  having  acted  wrong. 

The  following  letter  to  Sir  John  Jervis  gives 
some  interesting  details  of  the  operations  of  the 
French  army  under  Buonaparte,  when  taking 
.  possession  of  Leghorn.  "  Leghorn  Roads,  June 
the  28//z.  Sir,  I  made  the  best  of  my  way  to 
this  place,  as  I  wrote  you  word  from  Genoa  was 
my  intention;  but  from  calms,  and  contrary 
winds,  it  was  yesterday  morning  before  I  an- 
chored in  the  northern  road  of  this  port.  The 
French  took  possession  of  the  town  about  one 

r  The  only  copy  that  remains,  which  consists  of  five  folio 
pages,  is  in  the  collection  of  Earl  St.  Vincent,  dated  June  24., 


o'clock,  and  immediately  fired  on  the  Incon- 
stant, and  a  prize  of  Captain  Hood's  laden  with 
timber;  but  without  doing  them  any  damage. 
The  exertions  of  Captain  Fremantle1  must  have 
been  very  great;  for  the  Consul,,  and  Mr.  Fon- 
nereau,  tell  me,  that  except  bad  debts  and  the 
loss  of  furniture,  nothing  of  any  great  conse- 
quence was  left  in  the  town.  1  hear  the  Go- 
vernor behaved  with  all  the  attention  in  his 
power  to  the  English,  by  doubling  the  guards 
on  the  Mole  to  prevent  them  from  being  mo- 
lested in  getting  out  their  vessels;  and,  that 
when  it  was  represented  to  him,  that  200  bul- 
locks, and  some  bread,  were  shipping  for  the 
English,  his  answer  was,  Leghorn  is  a  free  porf, 
and  shall  remain  so>  until  I  receive  contrary  orders 
from  the  Grand  Duke. 

"  I  have  just  detained  a  fishing  boat  from 
the  town:  the  troops  entered  at  Porta  Pisa,  and 
marched  through  Via  Grande  to  the  Mole  bat- 
tery. General  Buonaparte  went  to  the  palace 
of  the  Grand  Duke,  and  thence  made  a  visit  to 
the  Governor  and  took  possession  of  the  house 
of  the  English  Consul.  A  French  sentinel  ia 
mounted  at  the  gates  with  a  Tuscan.  Except 
the  French  troops  necessary  for  the  batteries, 
the  rest  lie  outside  the  town,  on  the  glacis,  for 
not  one  has  a  tent.  The  Governor  set  off  di- 
rectly for  Florence.  I  have  written  to  say, 

•  Twenty-three  sail  of  square-rigged  vessels,  and  fourteen 
tartanSj  put  to  sea  with  this  officer. 


318 

0 

That  whatever  may  be  their  policy,  in  with- 
holding a  few  vegetables  and  fruit  from  me, 
yet  that  their  fishing-boats  might  safely  go  out 
as  usual;  for  we  never  wished  to  distress  inno- 
cent inhabitants.  I  intend  remaining  here  for  a 
day  or  two,  in  order  to  prevent  any  English  ship 
from  entering,  until  the  news  may  spread  about. 
It  is  then  my  intention  to  proceed  to  St.  Fio- 
renzo,  to  get  wine,  wood,  &c.  and  thence  to  go 
to  Genoa.  I  find  my  ship  well  manned,  although 
not  active.*' 

(1796.)  In  a  letter  to  Sir  Gilbert  Elliot,  the 
Viceroy  of  Corsica,  dated  from  St.  Fiorenzo, 
July  the  1st,  the  Commodore  further  noticed 
the  proceedings  of  the  French  at  Leghorn : — 
"  The  English  are  under  infinite  obligations  to 
Spannochi,  who  is  suffering  for  it,  and  to  Cap- 
tain Fremantle.  You  may  be  assured  that  no 
exertions  of  my  own  were  wanting  to  have  got 
sooner  to  Leghorn;  but  it  was  Thursday  noon 
before  we  heard  the  rumour  at  Genoa,  and  on 
the  same  day  they  knew  it  at  Leghorn,  when 
an  express  was  sent  me.  Calms  prevented  my 
arrival  until  Monday  morning:  fortunately  my 
assistance  was  not  wanted,  and  it  was  owing  to 
these  apparently  unlucky  calms  that  so  much 
property  was  saved.'* 

The  good  faith  of  the  Governor  Spannochi 

1  Spannochi  was  by  birth  a  Neapolitan,  and  had  commanded, 
in  1/93,  the  Guiscardi  at  Toulon,  under  the  Marcshal  Forte- 
gucrri. 


319 

formed  a  striking  contrast  to  the  ignoble  con- 
duct of  those  who  were  so  ready  to  make  any 
peace  with  the  enemies  of  their  Country.     The 
following  are  the  curious  epistles  which  on  this 
occasion   passed    between    Buonaparte    and    the 
Grand  Duke  of  Tuscany.     "  Leghorn,  June  29. 
Royal    Highness,    An    hour    before   we   entered 
Leghorn,    an   English    frigate    carried    off    two 
French   ships   worth  500,000  livres.     The   Go- 
vernor suffered  them  to  be  taken  under  the  fire 
of   his    batteries,    which    was    contrary    to   the 
intention  of  your  Royal  Highness,  and  the  neu- 
trality of  the  port  of  Leghorn.     I  prefer  a  com- 
plaint to  your  R.  H.  against  this  Governor,  who 
in  his  whole  conduct  displays  a  decided  hatred 
against  the  French.     He  yesterday  endeavoured, 
at  the  moment  of  our  arrival,  to  make  the  people 
rise  up  against  us,-  there  is  no  kind  of  ill  treat- 
ment he  did  not  cause  our  advanced  guard  to 
experience.     I  should  doubtless  have  been  justi- 
fied in  bringing  him  to  trial  before  a  military 
commission;   but  from    respect  for  your  Royal 
Highness,    and    being   intimately   convinced    of 
the    spirit    of   justice,    which    directs   all    your 
actions,    I   preferred  sending  him  to  Florence, 
•where  I  am  persuaded,  you  will  give  orders  to 
have   him  punished    severely.     I    must,    at    the 
same  time,  return  my  thanks  to  your  R.  H.  for 
your  goodness  in  appointing  General  Strasoldo 
to  supply  the  army  with  every  thing  that  was 
necessary,  he  has  acquitted  himself  with  equal 


320 

zeal  and  success.  Buonaparte."— To  this  insolent 
abuse  of  the  brave  Spannochi  succeeded  the  fol- 
lowing letter  of  his  Sovereign.  "  Genera^  Ge- 
neral Spannochi,  confined  by  your  order,  has 
been  brought  hither.  It  is  a  point  of  delicacy 
to  keep  him  in  arrest  until  the  motives  of  this 
step,  which  I  presume  to  be  just,  are  known  to 
me:  in  order  to  give  you,  as  well  as  the  French 
republic  and  all  Europe,  the  greatest  proof  of 
equity  conformably  to  the  laws  of  my  Country, 
to  which  I  have  always  made  it  my  duty  to  sub- 
mit myself.  I  send  this  letter  by  the  Marquis 
Manfredini,  my  major  domo,  whom  I  request 
you  to  inform  in  what  Spannochi  has  been  cul- 
pable. You  may  besides  repose  full  confidence 
in  him  relative  to  all  the  objects  interesting  to 
the  repose  of  my  subjects.  I  ardently  desire  to 
receive  a  letter,  written  by  yourself,  which  in 
the  present  circumstances  may  render  me  com- 
pletely tranquil,  and  at  the  same  time  confirm 
the  repose  of  Tuscany.  FERDINAND." 

(1796.)  Early  in  the  morning  of  the  8th  of  July, 
Commodore  Nelson,  then  close  off  the  Melora, 
received  a  letter  from  the  Viceroy  of  Corsica, 
with  whom  he  had  orders  to  cooperate  in  all 
respects,  respecting  his  intention  to  possess 
Porto  Ferrajo;  upon  which  the  Commodore 
instantly  dispatched  the  Meleager  with  the 
above  letter  to  Genoa,  and  directed  Captain 
Cockbtirn  to  remain  forty-eight  hours  in  that 
port,  in  order  to  receive  whatever  information 


321 

could  be  collected;  whilst  he  himself  proceeded 
with  the  Peterell  sloop,  off  Porto  Ferrajo. — 
^During  the  night  he  sent  in  a  boat  to  see  whe- 
ther the  French  or  English  had  possession  of 
the  place,  and  found  the  Southampton  lying 
there:  in  the  morning,  the  convoy  hove  in 
sight,  and  the  Inconstant,  Captain  Fremantle, 
was  seen  working  up  to  join  him. 

Sir  Gilbert  Elliot,    in   his  letter  to   the   Go- 
vernor of  Porto  Ferrajo,   dated  Bastia,  July  6, 
gave  him  the  following  reasons  for  the  measures 
which  the  insidious  conduct  of  the  French  had 
induced    the   Viceroy   to  adopt.       "  Sir:    The 
French  troops  have  taken  possession  of  the  city 
of  Leghorn;  the  cannon  of  the  fortresses  have 
been  directed  against  the  ships  of  the  King  in 
the  road,  and  the  property  of  his  Majesty's  sub- 
jects at   Leghorn   has  been   violated,    notwith- 
standing the  neutrality  of  his  R.  H.  the  Grand 
Duke  of  Tuscany,  and  the  reiterated  protesta- 
tions of  the  French  to  respect  it.     There  is  like- 
wise reason  to  believe,  that  the  French  have  the 
same  intentions  upon  the  fortress  of  Porto  Fer- 
rajo, hoping  by  such  means  to  facilitate  the  de- 
signs which  they  meditate  against  the  kingdom 
of  Corsica.     These   circumstances   have  deter- 
mined us  to  prevent  the  plans  of  the  enemies  of 
the  King,  which  are  equally  hostile  to  the  Grand 
Duke,    by  placing  at  Porto  Ferrajo  a  garrison 
capable  of  defending  that  place;  our  only  inten- 
tion being  to  prevent  that  fortress,  and  the  whole 


322 

island  of  Elba,  from  falling  into  the  hands  of  the 
French.  We  invite  and  request  you,  Sir,  to 
receive  the  troops  of  his  Majesty,  which  will 
appear  before  the  place,  under  the  following 
conditions:" — According  to  these,  Porto  Ferrajo 
and  its  dependencies  were  to  remain  under  the 
government  of  the  Grand  Duke;  and  in  the  most 
solemn  manner  a  promise  was  made,  that  the 
troops  should  retire,  and  the  place  be  restored, 
at  the  peace. 

(1796.)  This  naval  station,  the  chief  port  of  the 
island  of  Elba,  was  by  nature  very  strong,  and  the 
citadel  nearly  impregnable.  It  has  a  fine  mole 
for  vessels  of  a  small  draught,  and  a  commodious 
bay  for  large  ships,  where  they  may  obtain  an 
abundance  of  good  water.  Captain  Stuart  of 
the  Peterell,  and  Lieutenant  Gourly  of  the 
Vanneau,  had  nobly  volunteered  their  services 
to  the  Commodore,  to  go  in  with  a  detachment 
of  the  troops  on  board  their  two  vessels,  and 
having  beaten  down  the  sea-gate,  to  force  their 
way  into  the  town.  But  though  Nelson  admired 
their  spirit,  he  thought  the  enterprize  too  ha- 
zardous to  be  attempted.  The  troops  having 
been  all  landed,  advanced  within  musket  shot  of 
the  citadel;  and  the  Commodore, -in  his  letter  to 
Admiral  Sir  John  Jervis,  dated  Captain,  Porto 
Ferrajo,  July  10,  detailed  the  proceedings  of 
the  squadron,  and  of  the  troops  under  his 
orders,  in  taking  possession  of  that  place.  *  Sir: 
I  have  the  pleasure  to  inform  you,  that  the 


323 

troops  under  the  command  of  Major  Duncan 
took  possession  of  the  forts,  and  town  of  Porto 
Ferrajo,  this  day  at  ten  o'clock.  On  my  join- 
ing the  convoy  from  Bastia  yesterday  forenoon, 
Major  Duncan  having  done  me  the  favour  to 
come  on  board,  we  concerted  on  the  most  proper 
methods  for  speedily  executing  the  instructions 
which  the  Viceroy  had  given  him.  The  troops 
were  landed  last  night  about  a  mile  to  the  west- 
ward of  the  town,  under  the  direction  of  Captain 
Stuart  of  the  Petercll;  and  the  Major  immedi- 
ately marched  close  to  the  gate  on  the  western 
side,  and  at  five  o'clock  this  morning  sent  in  to 
the  -Governor  the  Viceroy's  letter,  containing 
the  terms  which  would  be  granted  to  the  town, 
and  gave  him  two  hours  for  the  answer.  At 
half  past  five  I  carne  on  shore,  when  we  received 
a  message  from  the  Governor,  desiring  one  hour 
more  to  consult  with  the  principal  inhabitants. 
We  took  this  opportunity  to  assure  those  who- 
were  Tuscans,  that  they  should  receive  no  injury 
whatever  in  their  persons  or  property. 

"  Having  ordered  the  ships  and  vessels  into 
the  harbour,  to  their  several  stations  before 
appointed,  the  Major  and  myself  determined, 
should  the  terms  offered  be  rejected,  instantly  to 
open  the  fire  of  the  ships,  and  to  storm  the  place, 
on  every  point  from -the  land  and  sea.  The  har- 
mony and  good  understanding  between  the  Army 
and  Navy  employed  on  this  occasion,  will  I  trust 

y  2 


324 

be  a  further  proof  of  what  may  be  effected  by  the 
hearty  cooperation  of  the  two  services. 

"  I  cannot  conclude  without  expressing  my 
fullest  approbation  of  the  zeal  and  good  conduct 
of  every  Captain,  officer,  and  man  in  the  squa- 
dron; and  also,  that  during  the  time  I  was  neces- 
sarily employed  on  shore,  my  first  lieutenant, 
Edward  Berry,  commanded  the  ship,  and  placed 
her  opposite  the  grand  bastion,  within  half  pistol 
shot;  and  in  such  a  manner  as  could  not  have 
failed,  had  we  opened  our  fire,  to  produce  the 
greatest  effect.  The  place  is  mounted  with  one 
hundred  pieces  of  cannon,  and  garrisoned  by 
400  regulars,  besides  militia." 

(1796.)  Commodore  Nelson  to  Sir  John  Jervis, 
dated  Leghorn  Roads,  July  the  \%th.  "  Dear 
Sir:  1  hope  his  Holiness  the  Pope  may  yet  wage 
war  against  the  French.  I  have  never  heard 
that  he  lias  been  in  actual  hostility  against 
them.  The  blockade  of  Leghorn  is  complete, 
not  a  vessel  can  go  in  or  come  out  without  my 
permission.  Yesterday  a  Dane  came  out  laden, 
with  oil  and  wine  for  Genoa:  T  told  him  he  must 
return,  or  I  should  send  him  to  Corsica.  His 
answer  was,  '  I  am  a  Neutral,  and  you  may  take 
me,  but  I  will  not  return.'  I  therefore  took  pos- 
session, and  intended  giving  him  to  a  Corsicaii 
privateer;  when,  in  about  two  hours,  he  begged 
I  would  allow  him  to  return.  On  this  I  sent  him 
back  with  a  letter  to  the  Danish  Consul,  whence 


325 

the  following  is  an  extract:  Respect  for  the 
Danish  fag,  and  humanity  to  the  owners  of  this 
vessel,  impel  me  to  return  her  into  their  possession, 
and  not  proceed  to  those  extremities  which  the  laws 
of  nations  allow  in  case  of  a  declared  blockaded 
port.  This  I  am  satisfied  was  a  trial  of -what  I 
intended;  for  he  said,  all  the  neutrals  were  deter- 
mined to  come  out.  If  we  are  firm,  the  Grand 
Duke  will  sorely  repent  his  admission  of  the 
French :  his  repeated  proclamations  for  the 
people  to  he  quiet,  have  given  time  to  the 
French  to  lay  powder  under  all  the  works;  and, 
in  case  of  any  disturbance,  they  say,  up  shall  go 
the  works.  Cannon  are  pointed  from,  the  wall  to 
every  street,  and  all  the  cannon  and  mortars  are 
mounted ;  the  famous  long  brass  gun  is  on  the 
mole  head,  and  also  a  mortar.  The  Grand  Duke 
declares  he  yet  hopes  the  Directory  will  order 
Buonaparte  to  leave  Leghorn,  but  I  believe  the 
French  now  wish  to  get  into  fortified -towns,  to 
prolong  the  campaign. 

"  The  Captain  has  her  wants,  but  I  intend  she 
shall  last  until  the  autumn;  for  I  know  when  once 
we  begin,  our  wants  are  innumerable.  I  hope 
the  Admiralty  will  send  out  fresh  ships.  The 
French  are  fitting  out  here  from  four  to  six  tar- 
tans, with  thirty-six  pounders,  to  drive  me  out 
of  the  roads;  but  I  am  prepared  against  fire 
vessels,  and  all  other  plans,  as  well  as  I  am  able. 
The  tartans,  it  is  said,  will  be  out  to-night:  two 
thousand  French  are  arrived,  and  more  are  ex- 


326 

pected.  I  have  only  now  to1  beg,  that  whenever 
you  think  the  enemy  will  face  you  on  the  water, 
you  will  send  for  me;  for  my, heart  would  break 
to  be  absent  at  sucli  a  glorious  time." 

( 1 796. )  Commodore  Nelson  to  H.  R.  H.  the  Duke 
of  Clarence,  dated  Captain,  Leghorn  Roads,  under 
sail  for  Genoa,  July  20.  "  Sir:  I  was  this  morn- 
ing honoured  with  your  Royal  Highness's  letter 
of  May  30th,  and  it  gives  me  real  satisfaction  to 
be  assured  of  the  continuance  of  your  good  opi- 
nion. Indeed  I  can  say  with  truth,  that  no  one 
whom  you  may  have  been  pleased  to  honour  with 
your  notice,  has  a  more  sincere  attachment  for 
you  than  myself.  It  has  pleased  God  this  war, 
not  only  to  give  me  frequent  opportunities  of 
shewing  myself  an  Officer  worthy  of  trust,  but 
also  to  prosper  all  my  undertakings  in  the  highest 
degree.  I  have  had  the  extreme  good  fortune, 
not  only  to  be  noticed  in  my  immediate  line  of 
duty,  but  also  to  obtain  the  repeated  approbation 
of  his  Majesty's  Ministers  at  Turin,  Genoa,  and 
Naples,  as  well  as  of  the  Viceroy  of  Corsica,  for 
my  conduct  in  the  various  opinions  I  have  been 
called  upon  to  give,  and  my  judgment  being 
formed  from  common  sense,  I  have  never  yet 
been  mistaken. 

"  You  will  hear  of  our  taking  possession  of 
Porto  Perrajo ;  if  we  had  not,  to  a  certainty  the 
French  would,  and  then  they  would  have  been 
too  near  Corsica,  where  I  fear  we  have  an  un- 
grateful set  of  people,  and  one  party  ackno\vr- 


327 

leclged  friends  to  the  French,  which,  although 
greatly  outnumbered  by  our  friends,  constantly 
makes  disturbances.  The  armistice  of  the  Pope 
and  King  of  Naples,  will  I  believe  come  to  no- 
thing; it  was' only  done  to  gain  time,  and  they 
will  be  guided  by  the  success  or  defeat  of  the 
Austrians.  The  King  of  Naples  is  firm,  he  has 
been  by  far  the  most  faithful  ally  of  England: 
He  is  at  the  head  of  80,000  men  at  Velletri,  only 
two  posts  from  Rome;  where  the  people  are  ripe 
for  a  revolt,  and  already  declare  that  the  busts, 
statues,  and  manuscripts,  shall  not  go  out  ofN 
Rome.  The  French  possessing  themselves  of 
Leghorn,  so  contrary  to  the  repeated  pledges 
of  the  Directory,  will  afford  such  an  opportunity 
for  ail  the  Italian  States  to  break  with  them 
again,  that  perhaps  they  may  be  induced  to 
give  it  up:  the  King  of  Naples,  if  they  refuse, 
would  march  to  attack  it,  and  we  are  sure  of  the 
lower  order  at  Leghorn.  The  garrison  is  rein- 
forced to  5000  men,  and  provisions  are  getting 
into  the  citadel:  the  French  General  has  told 
the  inhabitants,  that  if  they  are  not  quiet,  he 
would  blow  all  the  works  up  round  the  town, 
and  which  in  fact  would  blow  half  the  town  up: 
the  mines  are  laid;  large  vessels  are  also  fitting 
with  forty-two  pounders,  and  furnaces,  to  annoy 
me ;  but  I  am  prepared,  as  much  as  possible, 
against  whatever  may  happen." 

The   cordiality    which  prevailed  amongst  all 
those  who  at  this  time  held  high  situations  in 


398 

the  Mediterranean,  is  a  proof  that  the  interests 
of  the  British  Nation  had  been  intrusted  lo  men 
of  great  and  liberal  minds,  who  wanted  no  addi- 
tional impulse  or  fresh  instructions  from  the 
cabinet,  to  regulate  their  conduct.  "  I  was  un- 
acquainted, "  saj^s  Sir  J.  Jervis,  in  writing  to 
Mr.  Wynclham,  *  "  M'ith  the  enterprise  against 
Porto  I-'errajo,  until  it  came  into  our  possession, 
having  given  orders  to  Commodore  Nelson  to 
cooperate  in  all  respects  with  the  Viceroy."  The 
confidence  which  the  Commander  in  Chief,  the 
Viceroy,  and  il;<:  Commodore,  uniformly  pos- 
sessed in  each  other,  appears  in  all  their  opera- 
tions; the  only  object  they  appeared  to  covet, 
was  Honour.  "  I  experience,  Sir,"  said  Nelson, 
in  writing  to  Sir  J.  Jervis,  August  1,  "  the 
highest  degree  of  pleasure  which  an  officer  is  car 
pabie  of  fetling,  the  full  approbation  of  his  Com- 
mander in  Chief;  which  must  not  be  a  little 

"  Amidst  those  Ministers  in  the  Mediterranean,  whose  sound 
integrity  and  lo}  ally  were  in  1796  opposed  to  the  craft  and  de- 
mocratic suhtilty  of  the  French,  the  Hon.  William  Wyndham 
particularly  de-serves  notice,  as  being  related  to  that  celebrated 
Royalist,  Sir  Thomas  H'ymlham,  who  is  mentioned  with  so  much 
honour  by  Hume.  "  A  few  days  before  his  death,  in  1636,  Sir 
T.  Wyndham  called  to  him  his  five  sons:  My  children,  said  he, 
•we  have,  hitherto  seen  serene  and  quiet  limes  under  our  three  last 
Sovereign! :  but  1  must  now  ivarn  you  to  prepare  far  clouds  anJ 
storms.  Factions  arise  on  tn>ery  side,  and  threaten  tJie  tranquillity  of 
your  native  Country.  But  whatever  happens,  do  you  faithfully 
honour  and  obey  your  Prince,  and.  adhere  to  the  Croivn  though  it 
should  hang  on  a  lush," 


329 

increased  by  knowing  that  his  Commander  is 
such  a  character  as  Sir  John  Jervis,  without  dis- 
paragement or  flattery,  allowed  to  be  one  of  the 
first  in  the  service." 

The  following  letter  that  had  been  sent  to 
Mrs.  Nelson  on  the  2d  of -August,  displays  those 
features  of  the  zealous  and  sanguine  mind  of  the 
Commodore,  which  must  in  vain  be  sought  for 
in  any  other  communication:  M  Had  all  my  ac- 
tions, my  dearest  Fanny,  been  gazetted,  not  one 
fortnight  would  have  passed  during  the  whole 
war  without  a  letter  from  me:  one  day  or  other 
I  will  have  a  long  gazette  to  myself;  I  feel  that 
such  an  opportunity  will  be  given  me.  I  cannot, 
if  I  am  in  the  field  for  glory,  be  kept  out  of  sight. 
Probably  my  services  may  be  forgotten  by  the 
great,  by  the  time  I  get  home;  but  my  mind  will 
not  forget,  nor  cease  to  feel  a  degree  of  consola- 
tion, and  of  applause,  superior  to  undeserved 
rewards.  Wherever  there  is  any  thing  to  be 
done,  there  Providence  is  sure  to  direct  my 
steps.  Credit  must  be  given  me  in  spite  of 
envy.  Even  the  French  respect  me:  their  Mini- 
ster at  Genoa,  in  answering  a  note  of  mine, 
when  returning  some  wearing  apparel  that  had 
.been  taken,  said,  Your  Nation,  Sir,  and  mine,  are. 
made  to  shezv  examples  of  generosity,  as  well  as  of 
'valour,  to  all  the  people  of  the  earth.  The  follow- 
ing is  a  copy  of  the  note"  I  had  sent  him:  ( 

?  Dated  Genoa  Mole,  June  11,  l/ 


330 

nerous  Nations,  Sir,  are  above  rendering  any 
other  damage  to  individuals,  than  such  as  the 
known  laws  of  war  prescribe.  In  a  vessel  lately 
taken  by  my  squadron  was  found  an  imperial  full 
of  clothes,  belonging  to  a  general  officer  of  artil- 
lery, I  therefore  send  you  the  clothes  as  taken, 
and  some  papers  which  may  be  useful  to  the 
officer,  and  have  to  request  you  will  have  the 
goodness  to  forward  them  to  him.' — I  will  also 
relate  another  anecdote,  all  vanity  to  myself,  but 
you  will  partake  of  it :  A  person  sent  me  a  letter, 
and  directed  as  follows,  Horatio  Nelson,  Genoa. 
On  being  asked  how  he  could  direct  in  such  a 
manner,  his  answer  in  a  large  party  was,  Sir, 
there  is  but  one  Horatio  Nelson  in  the  world.  The 
letter  certainly  came  immediately.  At  Genoa, 
where  I  have  stopped  all  their  trade,  I  am  be- 
loved and  respected  both  by  the  senate  and 
lower  order.  If  any  man  is  fearful  of  his  vessel 
being  stopped,  he  comes  and  asks  me;  if  I  give 
him  a  paper,  or  say,  '  All  is  right,'  he  is  con- 
tented. I  am  known  throughout  Italy;  not  a 
kingdom,  or  state,  where  my  name  will  be  for- 
gotten. This  is  my  gazette.  I  had  a  letter  a 
few  days  since  from  H.  R.  H.  the  Duke  of  Cla- 
rence, assuring  me  of  his  unalterable  friendship. 
With  kindest  love  to  my  Father,  believe  me  your 
most  affectionate  husband." 

(1796.)   The  Rev.  Edmund  Nelson  to  his  Son 

Horatio,  dated  July  4.    "  Your  affectionate  letter 

-in  August,  my  dear  Horatio,  is  arrived,  which 


brings  me  fresh  assurances,  if  such  were  want- 
ing, that  neither  time,  nor  distance,  nor  multi- 
plicity of  business,  can  change  or  shake  those 
principles  of  filial  affection,  which,  from  a  very 
early  period,  have  indicated  a  mind  guided  by 
true  morality  and  evangelical  religion;  and  those 
principles  will  be  your  support  throughout  the 
period  of  your  life.  You  are  rendering  to  the 
public  every  claim  it  can  demand  from  your  pro- 
fessional station:  all  your  time,  your  talents,  and 
abilities,  are  exerted  in  its  service;  and  though 
success  does  not  always  crown  our  best  endea- 
vours, yet  it  is  a  proof  of  sound  judgment,  when, 
in  a  series  of  events,  success  shews  itself  to  have 
arisen  from  plans  of  operation  founded  on  pro- 
fessional knowledge,  and  depth  of  thought.  The 
advantages  of  an  active  life  are  so  many,  that  no 
one  of  common  understanding  ever  hesitated  in 
preferring  what  is  likely  to  be  useful,  both  to 
himself,  and  to  society.  As  it  has  pleased  God 
to  give  you  abilities  to  act,  so  I  trust  your  own 
exertions  in  using  those  powers  will  be  approved 
of,  and  receive  a  blessing  from  an  all  wise  and 
gracious  Benefactor:  O  may  He  continue  to  pre- 
serve, direct,  and  assist  all  your  endeavours  in 
doing  what  is  right.  Weigh  in  your  own  scale  of 
sound  judgment  all  things  which  you  can  best 
understand,  and  from  causes  discern  effects. — 
God  bless,  preserve,  and  prosper  you.  Edmund 
Nelson." 

(1796.)  On  the  15th  of  August,  Nelson  re- 


332, 

ceivecl  an  order  which  established  him  Commo- 
dore with  a  Captain  under  him;  and  on  the  same 
day,  when  at  sea,  informed  the  Admiral,  that  he 
•was  going  to  Bastia  to  consult  with  the  Viceroy 
on  the  subject  of  the  Leghorn  expedition.  On 
his  arrival  there  the  next  day,  he  appears  san- 
guine respecting  the  project  they  had  in  view, 
and  the  successful  eveat  of  a  Spanish  war:  "All 
•will  be  well  I  am  satisfied  in  our  Leghorn  expe- 
dition, provided  Wurmser  is  victorious;  upon 
this  ground  only  have  I  adopted  the  measure. 
\Ve  are  impatient  for  the  battle  of  the  3d;  there 
are  reports  at  Florence  that  the  Austrians  are 
checked ;  but  no  account  of  this  had  been  pub- 
lished by  the  French  at  Leghorn  on  the  14th. 
All  the  heavy  stores  are  shipping  here,  and  at 
St.  Fiorenzo,  and  twenty-four  hours,  when  the 
opportunity  offers,  will  be  sufficient.  I  hope  we 
shall  have  settled  Leghorn  before  the  Dons,  if 
they  intend  it,  arrive.  I  have  still  my  doubts  as 
to  a  Spanish  war,  and  if  there  should  be  one,  with 
your  management  I  have  no  fears.  Their  fleet 
is  ill  manned,  and  worse  officered,  I  believe,  and 
they  are  slow.  Lord  Bute's  letter  paves  the  way 
very  clearly  for  your  line  of  acting:  Ministers 
seldom  commit  themselves  in  an  opinion.  Should 
the  Dons  come,  I  shall  then  hope  I  may  be  spared, 
in  my  own  person,  to  help  to  make  you  at  least 
^  Viscount." 

( 1 796. )    Commodore  Nelson    to  H.  R.  H.    the 
Duke  of  Clarence,  dated  August  lp.     "Sir:  la 


S33 

the  present  situation  of  affairs  I  will  not  let  slip 
an  opportunity  of  writing  to  your  Royal  High- 
ness.    The  check  which  the  Austrians  have  met 
with  in  Italy  on  the  3d,  4th,  and  5th,  must  give 
another  unfavourable  turn  to  the  affairs  of  our 
Allies.     The  French  have  made  the  most  of  it, 
and   they  were   no  doubt  masters  of  the   field 
of  battle.     I  wish  to  say  more  than  I  dare  to 
trust  to  the  post,  of  the  object  of  an  expedition 
that    was    to   have    taken    place    the    moment 
Wurmser  became  victorious,   in  which  I  was  to 
have  been  a  principal  actor. — Our  affairs  in  Cor- 
sica are  gloomy;  there  is  a  very  strong  repub- 
lican party  in   that   island,   and   they  are  \veli 
supported    from    France;    the   first    favourable 
moment  they  will  certainly  act  against  us.     The 
French  are  endeavouring  to  get  over  from  the 
continent  twenty  and  thirty  men  at  a  time,  and 
they  M'ill  accomplish  it  in   spite  of  all  we  can 
do.      Gentili,    a  Corsican,    who  commanded   in 
Bastia  when  we  took  it,  is  arrived  at  Leghorn, 
to  command  in  Corsica.      Twenty  field  pieces 
have  .been  sent  from  here,  and  are  landed  near 
Ajaccio. 

"  As  to  our  fleet,  under,  such  a  Commander  in 
Chief  as  Sir  John  Jervis,  nobody  has  any  fears. 
We  are  now  twenty-two  sail  of  the  line;  the 
combined  fleet  will  not  be  more  than  thirty-five 
sail  of  the  line,  supposing  the  Dons  detach  to 
the  West  Indies.  I  will  venture  my  life,  Sir 
John  Jervis  defeats  them;  I  do  not  mean  by  a 


334 

regular  battle,  but  by  the  skill  of  our  Admiral, 
and  the  activity  and  spirit  of  our  officers  and 
seamen.  This  country  is  the  most  favourable 
possible  for  skill  with  an  inferior  fleet;  for  the 
winds  are  so  variable,  that  some  one  time  in 
twenty-four  hours  you  must  be  able  to  attack 
a  part  of  a  large  fleet,  and  the  other  will  be  be- 
calmed, or  have  a  contrary  wind,  therefore  I  hope 
government  will  not  be  alarmed  for  our  safety, 
I  mean  more  than  is  proper.  I  take  for  granted 
they  will  send  us  reinforcements  as  soon  as  pos- 
sible; but  there  is  nothing  we  are  not  able  to 
accomplish  under  Sir  John  Jervis.  I  am  sta- 
tioned, as  you  know,  to  blockade  Leghorn,  and 
now  Corsica  may  prevent  my  going  to  the  fleet, 
which  I  feel  very  much,  but  all  cannot  be  as  we 
wish.  I  assure  your  Royal  Highness  that  no 
small  part  of  my  pleasure  in  the  acknowledg- 
ment of  my  services,  has  arisen  from  the  con- 
viction that  I  am  one  of  those  of  whom  from 
your  early  youth  you  have  been  pleased  to  have 
a  good  opinion;  and  I  have  to  beg  that  your 
Iloyal  Highness  will  ever  believe  me  your  most 
faithful  Horatio  Nelson." 

(1796.)  The  character  of  the  English  Nation, 
and  of  the  Commodore,  is  delineated  in  the 
letter  which  he  sent  to  De  Lavilette,  Governor 
of  Leghorn,  dated  Leghorn  Roads,  August  22. 
"Your  Excellency,  from  the  great  length  of 
time  you  have  been  at  Leghorn,  well  knows 
that  it  is  the  pride  of  the  English  to  relieve  and 


335 

alleviate  the  misfortunes  even  of  their  enemies; 
much  more  then  would  it  be  a  pleasure  to  Eng- 
land to  assist  the  Tuscans  in  their  distress,  from 
the  breach  of  faith  of  the  French,  and  their 
most  extraordinary  conduct  towards  a  neutral 
state:  I  therefore  had  given  passports  to  every 
fisherman  to  go  out  as  usual  with  their  tartans, 
and  it  is  with  astonishment  I  find  that  these 
poor  fishermen,  who  are  obliged  to  come  on 
board  my  Sovereign's  ship  to  obtain  that  per- 
mission, which  not  only  maintains  a  number  of 
poor  Tuscan  families,  but  also  supplies  the  town 
of  Leghorn  with  fish;  are  by  your  Excellency 
as  president  of  the  health  office,  subjected  to  a> 
quarantine  of  ten  days,  although  I  have  given 
my  word  of  honour,  which  until  now  was  never 
doubted,  that  I  am  with  my  squadron  in  llbera 
practica.  I  must  desire,  Sir,  that  you  will  re- 
present my  liberal  conduct,  contrasted  with  yours, 
to  His  Royal  Highness  your  Sovereign.  You 
must  have  noticed  my  long  forbearance,  in  not 
having  repelled  the  firing  of  the  batteries  against 
his  Britannic  Majesty's  ships;  you  must  have 
known  that  it  has  been  humanity,  and  not  want 
of  power,  towards  a  town  and  its  innocent  inha- 
bitants belonging  to  your  Sovereign,  whose 
situation  I  have  pitied:  but  now,  as  the  enemy 
have  withdrawn  such  numbers  of  their  troops, 
and  the  Tuscan  soldiers  being  so  superior  to  the 
French,  I  beg  leave  to  acquaint  you,  that  if  in 
future  one  shot  is  fired  at  his  Britannic  Majesty's 


ships,  I  shall  chastise  the  battery;  and  whatever 
damage  may  happen  to  the  town,  your  Sovereign 
and  the  inhabitants  of  Leghorn  must  lay  the 
entire  blame  on  his  Excellency  Jaques  De  La- 
vilette,  and  not  on  your  Excellency's  most  obe- 
dient servant  Horatio  Nelson." 

The  Governor  in  reply,  after  informing  the 
Commodore  that  he  had  received  a  copy  of  his 
letter,  the  original  being  left  in  the  hands  of  the 
Commandant  of  the  French  troops,  gave  as  his 
excuse  towards  the  fishermen,  that  the  Commo- 
dore had  not  made  the  public  declaration  re- 
specting his  squadron,  which  the  regulations  of 
the  office  of  health  required;  and  that  with 
respect  to  the  second  part  of  his  letter,  he  had 
been  misinformed,  for  the  remaining  force  of 
the  French  in  Leghorn  was  much  superior  to 
the  Tuscan.  "  Besides,"  added  the  Governor, 
"the  batteries  and  all  the  forts  are  occupied  by 
the  French:  I  hope  therefore,  from  your  mode- 
ration, and  the  well  known  sentiments  of  gene- 
rosity of  his  Britannic  Majesty,  that  you  will  not 
place  yourselves  in  such  situations  as  to  be 
annoyed  by  those  batteries,  and  in  consequence 
attempt  to  revenge  yourselves;  which  would 
fall  on  this  innocent  and  unhappy  country.'* 

In  a  letter  to  Mrs.  Nelson,  dated  Leghorn 
Roads,  August  23,  the  Commodore  informed 
her,  that  as  soon  as  affairs  were  settled  witn 
the  Grand  Duke,  he  should  pay  his  Holiness 
the  Pope  a  visit.  "I  do  not  think,"  added  he, 


"  that  he  will  oppose  the  thunder  of  the  Vatican 
against  my  thunder;  and  you  will  I  dare  say 
hear,  that  I  am  at  Rome  in  my  barge.  If  I  suc- 
ceed, I  am  determined  to  row  up  the  Tyber, 
and  into  Rome." 

(1796.)  The  correspondence  of  the  Commander 
in  Chief  with  some  of  the  leading  characters  in 
the  Mediterranean,  and  with  the  Government  at 
home,  occasionally  illustrates  the  various  events 
which  connect  the  proceedings  of  the  Commo- 
dore with  the  operations  of  the  fleet.     On  the 
23d   of  August,  in  writing  to  the  Viceroy,  Sir 
John   Jervis    had    touched    on    the    utility    of 
evacuating  Corsica,  and  obtaining  possession  of 
Porto  Ferrajo:    "  I  am  free  to  say,"  observed 
the  Admiral,  "that  if  the  Corsicans  do  not  man- 
fully resist  the  machinations  of  the  enemy,   it 
would  be  very  bad  policy  indeed  to  continue  in 
possession  of  the  ports  longer  than  is  absolutely 
necessary  for  our  own  convenience.     Porto  Fer- 
rajo would  be  a  very  good  transfer,   equally  £ 
portle  to  Leghorn;  and  while  the  Austrians  make 
any  stand  in  Italy,   I   conclude  it  will  be  the 
determination  of  our  Cabinet  to    bolster  them 
up;    for    should    the  fleet   be    withdrawn,    the 
French  would  be  masters  of  the  Adriatic,  give 
the  law  to  Naples,  take  possession  of  Sicily,  and 
in   short  overthrow  the  whole  system  in  Italy. 
I  enclose  the  copy  of  a  paper  I  gave  in  to  Lord 
Spencer,  at  his  request,  in  October,  which  was 
laid  before  the  Cabinet." — On  the  28th  of  Au- 

z 


338 

gust  Nelson  had  been  informed  by  the  Admiral, 
that  the  descent  with  which  the  western  side  of 
Corsica  was  threatened,  had  occasioned  Captain 
Towry's  being  placed  at  Ajaccio  to  fit  out  a 
flotilla,  wkh  the  following  force  under  his  com- 
mand, Dromedary,  Tarleton,  Poulette,  Bellette, 
gun-boat,  and  yard  launches:  and  on  the  30th, 
when  writing  to  Lord  Bute,  the  Admiral  had  also 
added  respecting  Corsica,  "  at  Genoa,  at  Port 
Especia,  and  Leghorn,  are  numerous  assemblages 
of  Corsican  Emigrants  in  the  interest  of  France, 
waiting  to  get  over  in  feluccas,  while  their  emis- 
saries are  intriguing  with  too  much  effect  within 
the  island.  To  frustrate  the  intended  descent, 
I  have  ordered  a  flotilla  to  be  equipped  at  Ajaccio, 
in  the  vicinity  of  which  one  of  the  debarkations 
is  intended  to  be  made;  and  another  at  Alteria, 
between  Porto  Vecchio  and  Bastia:  this  latter 
I  must  leave  to  Commodore  Nelson  and  the 
Viceroy  to  watch,  for  the  numerous  objects  I 
have  to  attend  to  have  swallowed  up  all  my 
means,  which  were  not  large." 

(1796.)  The  dubious  neutrality  of  the  Genoese, 
apparent  in  half  measures,  which  a  fatal  timidity 
and  selfishness  had  induced  them  to  adopt,  gra- 
dually brought  on  an  open  rupture  with  the  Com- 
modore, notwithstanding  his  anxiety  to  prevent 
it.  Towards  the  end  of  August,  Mr.  tJeatlcy, 
agent  victualler  to  the  Navy,  had  come  to  Genoa 
from  Corsica,  and  given  orders  that  one  hundred 
bullocks  should  be  purchased  for  the  fleet.  The 


339 

oxen  were  accordingly  procured,  and  vessels 
were  chartered  to  cany  them  to  St.  FioTenzo. 
On  the  31st  of  August,  the  Eclair  sloop,  Captain 
Tyrrell,  arrived  at  Genoa,  in  order  to  convoy 
the  vessels  to  Corsica,  and  was  himself  supplied 
with  eight  oxen  and  such  other  refreshments 
as  he  required;  when,  on  the  next  day,  notice 
was  given  by  the  Genoese  government  that  the 
oxen  could  not  be  embarked,  for  the  exportation 
of  them  had  been  prohibited  by  a  decree  in  the 
preceding  year,  dated  October  30th,  1795;  al- 
though a  considerable  number  had,  since  that 
date,  been  shipped  for  the  supply  of  our  Navy.y 
On  the  10th  of  Sept.  the  Commodore  addressed  a 
note  to  the  Genoese  Secretary  of  State,  desiring 
to  be  informed  whether  an  answer  would  on  that 
day  be  given  to  his  repeated  applications  for  the 
embarkation  of  the  cattle;  and  he  declared, 
that  if  he  received  none,  he  would  in  the  eve- 
ning send  off  an  express  to  Mr.  Drake,  and  Sir 
John  Jervis;  and  would  withdraw  his  Majesty's 
ships  from  the  fort  of  Genoa. 

When  writing  to  Mrs.  Nelson  on  the  10th,  he 
had  touched  on  the  same  subject,  and  with  less  re- 
serve had  spoken  of  himself,  and  of  the  principles 
on  which  he  had  invariably  acted:  "I  have  me- 
morialised the  Senate,  and  had  an  audience  of 
the  Doge,  but  still  these  wise  heads  are  puzzled. 
The  Doge  was  very  curious  about  me;  he  asked 

j  Quarto  Edit.  Vol.  1 .  Page  3 1 5. 
z  2 


my  age,  said  he  had  heard  much  of  me,  that  the 
blockade  of  Leghorn  was  strict  beyond  what  he 
could  have  thought  possible;  at  the  same  time 
he  publickly  thanked  me  for  my  goodness  on 
many  occasions  to  Genoese  vessels.  It  has 
hitherto,  my  dearest  Fanny,  been  my  good  for- 
tune to  have  combined  the  strictest  rigour  of 
my  duty  with  gaining  the  good  will  of  the  par- 
tics  interested.  My  conduct  has  been  open: 
That  has  been  my  secret,  and  it  has  answered." 
(1796-)  On  the  llth  of  September,  another,  and 
if  possible  a  more  flagrant  breach  of  neutrality 
and  good  faith  took  place  at  Genoa.  The 
French  had  a  battery  at  St.  Pier.  d'Arena,  and 
had  landed  all  sorts  of  warlike  stores  under  the 
guns  of  Genoa.  Some  deserters  having  in  the 
preceding  night  escaped  in  a  boat,  the  Commo- 
dore at  daylight,  on  the  llth,  had  ordered  Lieu- 
tenant Noble  to  examine  the  moles  and  to  en- 
deavour to  regain  the  boat,  but  without  effect; 
and  on  the  Captain's  getting  outside  the  mole 
head,  the  Commodore  had  sent  Lieutenant  Berry 
and  two  boats,  but  without  soldiers,  to  examine 
the  beach  of  St.  Pier.  d'Arena:  his  orders  were, 
If  the  French  battery  fired  on  them,  they  should 
board  the  vessel  which  appeared  to  be  landing 
something  at  the  French  battery;  but  even  if 
the  case  required  this,  they  were  not  to  molest 
the  vessel  unless  laden  with  warlike  stores.  On 
Mr.  Berry's  approach  the  French  battery  had 
fired  on  our  boats;  upon  which  he  had  boarded 


34 1 

the  vessel,  and  finding  her  laden  with  warlike 
Stores,  had  brought  her  off  to  the  Commodore. 
Whilst  performing  this  service,  the  battery  called 
the  Lanthorn,  had  also  fired  on  the  English 
boats;  and  afterwards  the  guns  from  the  forts 
at  Genoa  had  opened  on  the  English  squadron. 
The  indignant  Nelson  immediately  drew  up  and 
circulated  what  he  emphatically  styled, 

Facts  for  the  knowledge  of  every  person  in  Genoa 

and  the  neighbourhood. 

"  A  French  battery  at  St.  Pier.  d'Arena  fired 
on  His  Britannic  Majesty's  boats,  the  French 
landing  all  sorts  of  warlike  stores  under  the  guns 
of  Genoa;  the  boats  boarded  and  took  a  French 
vessel  landing  warlike  stores,  abreast  of  the 
French  battery,  on  which  all  the  guns  of  Genoa 
opened  a  fire  on  H.  B.  M.  ships,  but  not  a  shot 
was  returned  against  the  Genoese  fortresses,  and 
only  three  were  directed  at  the  French  buttery 
to  mark  the  power  of  the  English,  and  their 
humanity  in  not  destroying  the  houses  and  in- 
nocent inhabitants  of  Genoa.  How  can  the 
serene  Government  defend  this  conduct,  as 
being  strictly  neutral?  The  place  where  the 
French  erect  batteries  cannot  be  considered  as 
neutral  ground.  The  inhabitants  of  St.  Pier. 
d'Arena,  and  the  Genoese  soldiers  on  the  bat- 
teries, will,  if  they  declare  the  truth,  support 
the  whole  of  my  assertion,  That  the  French  fired 
first,  and  that  the  English  boats  had  committed 
no  act,  good  or  bad,  before  the  French  fired. 


342 

Signed,    off    Genoa,    S£pt.    11,    1796,    Horatio 
Nelson." 

The  Commodore  having  many  letters  for  the 
Viceroy  of  Corsica,  and  wishing  much  to  see 
him,  stood  afterwards  for  Bastia,  and  on  the 
14th,  during  his  passage,  wrote  as  follows  to 
the  Admiral:  "I  assure  you,  dear  Sir,  on  the 
most  mature  reflection,  T  feel  nothing  in  this 
affair  to  reproach  myself  with;  and  I  shall  much 
rejoice  to  find  you  think  the  same.  jSome  steps 
must  necessarily  be  taken.  You  have  formerly 

V  •/ 

said,  you  would  pardon  my  writing  opinions  to 
you;  therefore,  should  not  a  squadron  demand 
of  the  government  of  Genoa  the  free  admission 
of  their  ports?  the  insult  and  cruelty  of  firing 
on  our  boats,  is,  I  suppose,  more  a  ministerial 
affair;  and  in  case  of  refusal,  then  comes  the 
consideration  what  is  next  to  he  done:  are  the 
French  to  he  attacked  at  St.  Pier,  d 'Arena?  is 
the  trade  of  Genoa  to  be  stopped?  I  mean  are 
all  Genoese  vessels  to  be  sent  into  St.  Fiorenzo, 
and  then  ordered  to  remain  with  the  masters 
and  crews  on  board,  in  full  possession  of  their 
vessels,  until  the  government  of  Genoa  open 
their  ports  and  give  satisfaction  for  what  has 
happened?  This  last,  to  be  sure,  may  be  easily 
got  over:  I  have  in  some  measure  taken  upon, 
myself  to  chastise  the  French,  although  sup- 
ported by  Genoa.  I  shall  close  this  letter  with 
whatever  conversation  I  may  have  with  the 
Viceroy. 


"Sept.  \5th.  It  is  no  small  degree  of  pleasure 
for  me  to  tell  you,  that  the  Viceroy  most  fully 
approves  of  every  measure  I  liave  taken.  He 
also  wishes  that  the  taking  and  securing  Genoese 
ships  be  adopted,  as  a  pledge  for  the  safety  of 
the  English  property  at  Genoa,  and  as  a  measure 
of  reprisal  for  the  conduct  of  the  government. 
As  the  Viceroy  will  write  more  fully,  I  shall  not 
touch  on  our  intended  Expedition." 

The  letter  which  Sir  John  Jervis  aferwards 
addressed  to  Mr.  Consul  Brame,  at  Genoa,  was 
written  in  the  original  spirit  and  loyalty  of  a 
British  Admiral.  "Sir;  I  have  read  with  asto- 
nishment and  indignation,  the  paper  sent  to  you 
by  the  Secretary  of  State  of  the  most  Serene  Re- 
puhlic  of  Genoa,  wherein  he  charges  Commodore 
Nelson  with  making  use  of  a  subterfuge,  to 
justify  the  boarding  and  carrying  off  a  French 
tartan  that  was  disembarking  cannon  and  ord- 
nance stores,  at  San  Pietro  cl'Arena.  I  have 
no  doubt  you  repelled  this  shameful  attack  on 
the  bright  honour  of  the  Commodore;  which 
you  were. fully  enabled  to  do,  by  the  deserters 
being  actually  in  your  possession  at  Genoa,  and 
the  boat  in  a  bay  near  it.  In  addition  to  this, 
the  enemy  having  erected  a  battery  to  cover 
and  protect  their  depot  of  military  stores  in  the 
territory  of  the  most  serene  republic,  was  jus- 
tifiable ground  for  the  Commodore  to  have  acted 
upon,  exclusive  of  their  shameful  fire  on  a  small 
open  boat.  I  have  always  respected  the  flag, 


344 

and  shewn  friendly  regard  to  the  subjects  of 
the  Genoese  government;  and  I  am  very  soli- 
citous to  continue  the  practice,  conformably  to 
the  will  and  pleasure  of  the  King,  my  Royal 
Master,  who  is  renowned  for  his  good  faith. 
But  I  desire  you  will  take  the  earliest  opportu- 
nity to  make  known  to  the  most  serene  republic, 
That  if  the  representations  lately  made  by  the 
Viceroy  of  Corsica,  Commodore  Nelson,  and 
myself,  are  not  listened  to,  and  summary  justice 
done  thereon,  I  shall  feel  myself  bound  by  every 
principle  which  can  govern  an  officer  invested 
"with  the  high  command  I  have  the  honour  to 
bear,  to  proceed  to  Genoa  with  the  fleet  and  to 
exact  it  from  the  mouths  of  my  cannon." 

(179^.)  Sir  Gilbert  Elliot,  in  a  previous  letter 
to  the  Commodore,  had  directed  his  attention  to 
the  island  of  Capraja,  and  had  expressed  a  wish, 
that  it  could  be  secured  in  time  from  the  designs 
of  the  enemy.  As  the  Viceroy  possessed  the 
entire  confidence  of  the  Commander  in  Chief, 
no  time  was  lost  in  projecting  an  Expedition 
which  Nelson  had  already  hinted  at  to  the 
Admiral.  The  Viceroy  in  his  letter  of  instruc- 
tions to  the  Commodore,  dated  Sept.  15,  began 
with  recapitulating  the  provocations  which  had 
compelled  the  adoption  of  that  measure:  the 
Genoese  government  had  not  only  refused  satis- 
faction for  its  insult  and  hostility  on  the  llth, 
but  had  intimated  in  answer  to  the  represen- 
tstfions  made  on  that  subject,  that  all  the  ports 


345 

of  the  republic  were  shut  against  the  British 
ships:  hostilities  had  also  been  committed  against 
Corsica,  and  his  Majesty  s  subjects,  by  vessels 
fitted  out  at  Capraja  during  the  last  two  years, 
contrary  to  the  laws  of  neutrality;  and  so  far 
from  any  satisfaction  having  been  obtained,  the 
Genoese  Government  had  even  declined  to  admit 
a  British  Vice  Consul  at  Capraja,  who  might 
have  given  information  of  such  injurious  pro- 
ceedings, and  have  restrained  the  many  abuses 
of  which  we  had  reason  to  complain.  An  agent 
of  the  French  republic  had  also  been  constantly 
established  and  avowed  at  Capraja,  who  had 
carried  on  every  species  of  depredation  and  hos- 
tility; and  the  enemy  had  made  a  practice  of 
coming  over  to  that  island,  with  stores  and  am- 
munition destined  for  the  re-conquest  of  Corsica: 
11 1  have  for  these  reasons,"  added  the  Viceroy, 
"judged  it  expedient  to  take  possession  of  the 
fort  and  island  of  Capraja  in  his  Majesty's  name, 
and  to  place  a  British  garrison  there,  until  due 
satisfaction  is  made  by  the  government  of  Genoa 
for  the  abovementioned  injuries,  and  a  sufficient 
security  is  obtained  against  the  repetition  of 
them  in  future.  Under  these  circumstances  I 
do  not  scruple,  Sir,  to  request  your  assistance 
and  cooperation,  having  had  many  opportunities 
of  knowing  your  zeal  and  readiness  on  every 
occasion  of  public  service.  For  particulars  re- 
specting the  troops,  to  be  embarked  on  this  Ex- 
pedition, and  all  other  matters  relative  to  its 


54G 

execution,  I  beg  leave  to  refer  you  to  Lieutenant 
General  de  Burgh,2  Commander  in  Chief.  Major 
Logan  M'ho  commands  t^he  troops,  will  concert 
every  point  with  you  and  will  join  you  in  the  sum- 
mons, capitulation,  or  any  other  correspondence 
•which  you  may  find  it  necessary  to  have  with 
the  commissioner  or  commandant  of  the  place." 
Having  received  the  troops  under  the  com- 
mand of  Major  Logan  on  board  the  Captain  and 
Gorgon,  the  Commodore  immediately  sailed 
from  Bastia,  in  company  with  the  Vanneau  and 
Rose  cutters,  and  on  the  next  day  \vas  joined 
by  la  Minerve,  Captain  G.  Cockburn. — During 
their  passage  the  signal  was  made  for  the  com- 
mander of  the  Rose,  lieutenant  Walker,  and  of 
the  , Vanneau,  lieutenant  Gourly,  who  had. dis- 
tinguished himself  both  at  Toulon. and  Bastia, 
to  come  on  board  the  Commodore,  in  order  to 
furnish  whatever  information  they  possessed  re- 
specting Capraja.  Lieutenant  Gourly  informed 
him,  that  there  was  a  place  to  the  northward  of 
the  port,  where  he  .thought  troops  might  be 
landed  close  to  a  tower  of  two  guns,  near  which 
a  hill  was  situated  that  looked  down  upon  the 
town.  The  Commodore  on  hearing  this,  deter- 
mined to  send  C200  men  thither  in  the  Rose  and 
Vanneau,  whilst  he  himself  would  endeavour  to 
get  the  other  troops  on  shore  near  the  southern 
part  of  the  island.  Owing  to  the  excessive  calm 

z  The  late  Lord  Clanricarde.- 


.347 

weather,  it  was  the  1/th  of  September  before 
.they  arrived  off  Capraja,  which  had  afforded 
time  to  the  inhabitants  to  prepare  every  thing 
for  the  prevention  of  their  landing;  aud  there 
were  not  more  than  three  places  where  it  was 
possible  for  troops  to  be  disembarked.  This 
opposition,  which  was  unexpected,  induced  Major 
Logan  to  divide  his  forces,  in  order  to  distract 
the  attention  of  the  enemy.  The  Commodore 
was  baffled  in  his  intentions  of  landing  near  the 
southern  part  of  the  island;  but  in  the  mean 
time,  lieutenants  Walker  and  Gourly,  having 
succeeded  in  erfectino;  a  landing  at  the  northern 

o  o 

end  of  Capraja  after  a  slight  opposition,  had 
gained  possession  of  the  two  gun  battery  and  the 
adjacent  hill,  with  which  information  the  Rose 
was  dispatched  to  the  Commodore.  Four  priva- 
teers that  were' lying  in  the  barbour  with  above 
300  men  on  board,  as  the  day  closed,  made  every 
preparation  to  come  out;  on  which  lieutenant 
Gourly  immediately  ran  the  Vanneau  off  the 
harbour's  mouth,  within  half  musket  shot  of  the 
batteries;  this  effectually  daunted  the  privateers, 
who  imagined  he  was  backed  by  other  ships, 
and  as  it  grew  dark  he  got  under  Mreigh,  and 
worked  across,  from  side  to  side,  until  near  mid- 
night, when  he  was  opportunely  joined  by  la 
Minerve,  Captain  Cockburn,  \vho  with  a  light 
breeze  had  come  to  his  assistance. 

(175;6.)  In  his  official  letter  to  Sir  John  Jervis, 
dated  Sept.  19,  the  Commodore  gave  an  ac- 
count of  the  surrender  of  the  island  on  the  18th, 


commended  the  complete  effect  which  had  been 
produced  hy  Major  Logan's  division  of  his  forces, 
and  declared,  that  lieutenants  Walker  and  Gourly 
had  conducted  themselves  much  to  his  satisfac- 
tion. "I  landed  100 troops  under  the  command 
of  lieutenant  Pierson,  whom  Major  Logan  and 
myself  hold  ourselves  much  pleased  with  for  his 
management  of  the  capitulation.  A  party  of 
seamen  were  also  landed  under  lieutenant  Spicer, 
who  carried  cannon  up  the  mountain  with  their 
usual  spirit  and  alacrity.  It  would  he  doing  in- 
justice were  a  distinction  to  he  made  between 
the  two  services;  all  had  full  employment,  and 
I  am  confident  but  one  opinion  prevailed,  that 
of  expediting  the  surrender  of  the  island  by 
every  means  in  their  power. 

"  I  cannot  conclude,"  adds  the  Commodore  in 
liis  official  letter,  ''without  assuring  you  of  my 
most  sincere  approbation  of  the  conduct  of  Cap- 
tain Cockburn  of  la  Minerve,  Captain  Dixon  of 
the  Gorgon,  and  lieutenant  Berry,  who  had  the 
temporary  command  of  the  Captain,  and  of  every 
officer  and  man  in  the  squadron.  Two  French 
privateers  are  taken  and  two  destroyed,  with 
several  vessels  their  prizes,  and  some  magazines 
of  French  property  on  shore." 

Whilst  these  plans  of  the  Viceroy  had  been 
thus  ably  and  successfully  executed,  he  had  re- 
solved to  extend  the  operations  of  the  Commo- 
dore; and  accordingly  ordered  the  Rose,  which 
had  been  sent  to  him  with  an  account  of  the 
surrender  of  Capraja,  to  return  immediately  with 


349 

fresh  instructions  respecting  a  design  on  Castig- 
lione.  The  Commodore  in  his  answer  said,  "I 
received  your  letter  on  Tuesday  morning  at 
three  o'clock,  and  immediately  weighed  from 
Capraja,  where  indeed  all  my  husiness  was  not 
finished;  but  I  never  can  rest  idle  if  any  thing 
is  to  be  done.  I  ordered  lieutenant  Walker  to 
keep  by  me,  as  I  was  totally  ignorant  of  the 
navigation,  and  his  cutter  would  be  most  use- 
ful in  taking  out  the  privateers.  It  was  the 
evening  before  I  got  to  Castiglione,  having  had 
bad  vreather  and  dangerous  navigation,  such  as 
is  rarely  met  with  in  the  Mediterranean.  I  stood 
under  Cape  Troya,  where  I  sent  my  boats  011 
board  some  Neapolitan  vessels,  and  afterwards 
to  some  Neapolitan  towers  on  shore.  I  learnt 
that  the  French  had  taken  possession  of  Cas- 
tiglione on  Wednesday  evening  with  500  men, 
and  the  Neapolitan  officer  expected  them  every 
moment  to  take  possession  of  his  towers.  1  have 
therefore  been  obliged  to  bring  back  your  letters, 
which  I  have  desired  Colonel  Montresor  to  for- 
ward to  Bastia,  for  my  presence  is  absolutely 
necessary  at  Leghorn." 

(1796'.)  On  the  24th  of  September  the  Commo- 
dore informed  Mr.  Udney,  the  Consul  General 
for  Tuscany,  that  all  Genoese  vessels  would  be 
detained  until  satisfaction  should  be  given  for 
the  insults  that  had  been  offered  to  his  Majesty's 
flag,  by  firing  on  it,  and  also  for  the  seizure  of 
the  British  shipping  and  property  in  Genoa. 


350 

The  fate  of  this  devoted  city  had  long  been 
expected  and  guarded  against  by  .the  Comman- 
der in  Chief; 'who  in  writing  to  Mr.  Drake  at 
Venice,  on  the  17th  of  September,  had  said, 
"  I  had  long,  Sir,  foreseen  the  fate  of  Genoa, 
and  given  Commodore  Nelson  particular  direc- 
tions to  keep  his  eye  upon  it.  I  also  discouraged 
some  merchants,  who  retired  from  Leghorn, 
sending  a  valuable  cargo  thither;  but  their  spirit 
of  adventure  outran  my  discretion:  two  empty 
transports  were  also  ordered  to  repair  to  Genoa 
to  receive  the  effects  of  our  merchants.  I  now 
despatch  orders  by  his  Majesty's  sloop  1'Eclair  to 
temporise  with  the  serene  republic,  until  he  can 
secure  the  factory  and  their  property.  Your  ab- 
sence is  deplored  by  us  all.  Your  commissioner 
gives  a  very  exact  account  of  the  number  of  French 
ships  of  the  line,  frigates,  and  corvettes  at  Tou- 
lon ready  for  sea,  with  the  exception  of  their 
sails  not  being  all  bent.  We  are  frequently  in- 
ferior to  them  in  our  number  of  line  of  battle 
ships,  and  they  have  between  twenty  and  thirty 
frigates  and  corvettes,  while  I  have  not  one:  the 
whole  of  mine  being  employed  in  the  Archipelago, 
Adriatic,  blockade  of  Leghorn,  covering  Corsica, 
and  convoying  between  Naples  and  Corsica.  I 
have  the  satisfaction  to  assure  you,  that  there 
never  was  a  squadron  in  higher  health,  order, 
or  government,  than  the  one  I  have  the  honour 
to  command.  I  have  caused  every  ship  to  be  tho- 
roughly caulked  at  sea,  and  we  are  for  the  most 


351 

part  patched  and  painted;  and  when  I  reflect 
that  we  are  in  the  close  of  the  three  and  twen- 
tieth week  at  sea,  I  cannot  be  too  thankful  for 
the  goodness  of  Providence.  The  Emperor  must 
employ  young  and  uncorrupt  men  in  the  com- 
mand of  his  armies,  or  these  devils  will  run  over 
them  every  where:  I  fear  French  gold  has  heen 
successfully  distributed  both  in  his  Camps  and 
Councils." 

In  order  to  give  the  infatuated  government 
of  the  serene  republic  of  Genoa  every  oppor- 
tunity to  recollect  its  own  interests,  and  the 
general  security  of  Italy,  the  Commander  in 
Chief  had  sent  the  Commodore  to  Genoa,  with  . 
a  flag  of  truce  and  an  offer  to  restore  Capraja, 
on  condition  that  things  were  placed  on  their 
ancient  footing.  But  nothing  could  rouse  the 
degraded  spirit  of  the  Genoese  senators  who 
have  since. paid  so  severely  for  the  pusillanimity 
and  dishonour  of  their  conduct,  which  laid  Itah* 
open  to  the  perfidy  and  avaricious  extortion  of 
the  French;  whose  army,  as  they  themselves 
have  acknowledged,  must  in  1794,  and  179.5, 
have  been  inevitably  starved,  whilst  its  head- 
quarters were  at  Nice,  if  it  had  not  been  supplied 
by  the  Genoese. 

The  Captain ,  being  sent  from  Leghorn  to 
Ajaccio,  an  acting  order  to  command  her  wa& 
given  to  Mr.  Berry;  and  the  Commodore,  for 
the  time,  shifted  his  broad  pendant  on  board  the 
Diadem,  64,  Captain  G.  H.  To  wry,  and  directed 


352 

principal  attention  to  the  designs  of  the 
French  in  Corsica  and  the  important  service  he 
would  again  have  to  perform  in  that  island.  On 
his  passage  to  Bastia  to  consult  with  the  Viceroy, 
Nelson,  in  writing  to  the  Admiral,  Sept.  28, 
1796,  delineated  those  extraordinary  powers  of 
discrimination  in  his  mind,  which  minutely 
searched  and  investigated  every  possible  event 
that  was  likely  to  occur:  "Sir:  During  the 
course  of  yesterday,  I  received  repeated  infor- 
mation of  the  movements  of  the  privateers  which 
are  to  carry  the  Corsicans.  On  the  25th,  each 
Corsican  was  paid  100  livres,  and  they  .behave 
so  ill  at  Leghorn  that  the  French  are  determined 
to  send  them  off,  upon  their  general  principle 
of  acting,  If  these  fellows  succeed,  so  much  the 
better  for  us ;  and  if  they  do  nott  we  get  rid  of  a 
set  of  scoundrels. 

"Now,  Sir,  the  point  for  me  to  consider  is, 
where  the  French  will  land  in  Corsica?  my  idea 
runs  strongly  that  Porto  Vecchio,  which  is  re- 
ported to  be  neglected  by  us,  and  in  which  is 
a  fort,  is  the  object  the  enemy  mean  to  possess; 
if  their  friends  in  the  island  intend  to  support 
them,  that  port  is  a  sure  refuge  for  their  vessels, 
and  an  opening  for  the  introduction  of  more 
troops  and  supplies.  If  the  Viceroy  will  order 
some  proper  men  into  the  fort,  and  I  find  the 
Sardine,  I  will,  with  the  Vanneau,  which  I  have 
ordered  from  Leghorn  for  that  purpose,  place  them 
as  guard  ships  in  the  harbour;  and  I  will  endca- 


vour  to  have  a  frigate  oft*  that-  part  of  the  coast. 
If  the  enemy  land  nearer  Bastia,  these  vessels 
with  those  which  may  be  there  will  he  sure  to 
destroy  them ;  although  it  is  possible  the  men 
may  get  on  shore:  but  I  hope  from  the  small 
craft  which  may  be  sent  about  the  islands  be- 
tween Corsica  and  the  main,  we  may  get  accounts 
of  their  approach.  If  their  intention  be  to  land 
on  the  western  coast  of  Corsica,  I  take  for 
granted  they  will  never  attempt  the  route  by 
Cape  Corse,  which  would  every  hour  exposei 
them  to  the  sight  of  some  of  our  ships,  and  of 
course  would  be  fatal  to  them.  Be  they  to  land 
on  the  eastern  or  western  side,  I  shall  act  on 
the  idea  that  they  will  proceed  to  the  southward 
passing  Piombino  to  Castiglione,  the  last  place 
in  their  possession:  but  if  I  can  get  at  them  on 
that  coast,  I  believe  it  will  be  in  my  power  to 
spoil  their  expedition.  If  they  are  to  pass  the 
straits  of  Bonifacio,  that  must  be  a  work  of  time, 
and  we  shall  have  many  chances  for  their  de- 
struction: no  opportunity  for  which  shall  be  omit- 
ted by,  Sir,  your  most  obedient  Servant.  P.  S. 
The  French  are  very  angry  at  our  taking  Ca,- 
praja:  the  commissioner  was  heard  to  say  to 
Gentili,  /  told  you  ice  should  have  sent  300  men 
and  taken  Capraja;  you  now  see  the  consequences, ," 
The  evacuation  of  Corsica  beinq;  at  length 

~  o 

determined  on,  in  consequence  of  the  war  with 
Spain,  the  Admiral  sent  the  information  to  the 
Commodore,  September  25,  with  directions  to 

2  A 


354 

proceed  to  Bastia.  The  Commodore  on  reaching 
Bastia,  September  29th,  informed  the  Admiral 
of  it.  "Sir:  Last  night  on  my  arrival  I  received 
your  most  secret  orders;  but  I  believe  many 
people  on  this  island  have  an  idea  that  something 
like  your  orders  is  going  forward.  I  shall  not 
fail  to  arrange  what  transports  may  be  necessary 
for  each  port,  which  is  all  that  I  can  do  until 
matters  are  brought  to  greater  maturity.  The 
Viceroy  thinks  that  there  will  not  be  more  than, 
about  600  emigrees,  Corsicans  and  French,  and 
the  stores  I  do  not  believe  are  very  numerous; 
for  the  ordnance  which  we  found  in  the  different 
fortifications,  the  Viceroy  will  not  I  imagine 
think  it  right  to  take  away.  His  Excellency  is 
very  much  distressed  by  this  measure,  and  be- 
lieves the  island  is  at  this  moment  in  a  most 
perfect  state  of  loyalty  to  the  King,  and  affection 
for  the  British  nation:  but  what  strikes  me  as  a 
greater  sacrifice  than  Corsica,  is  the  King  of 
Naples:  jf  he  has  been  induced  to  keep  off  the 
peace,  and  has  perhaps  engaged  in  the  war  again 
by  the  expectation  of  the  continuance  of'  our 
fleet  in  the  Mediterranean,  hard  indeed  is  his 
fate:  his  kingdom  must  inevitably  be  ruined." 

As  the  measure  of  the  evacuation  of  Corsica, 
and  the  withdrawing  of  the  fleet  had  been  deter- 
mined on,  the  active  mind  of  the  Commander  in 
Chief  became  anxious  for  its  speedy  execution: 
'•I  trust,"  said  he,  in  writing  to  the  Viceroy, 
October  2d,  "that  by  the  20th  or  25th  instant, 


355 

every  thing  will  be  ready  for  us  to  proceed. 
The  war  with  Spain  is  certain,  for  I  have  orders 
to  attack -ships  of  war  of  that  nation,  in  fleets, 
or  singly,  wherever  I  meet  them.  How  unfor- 
tunate that  Commodore  Nelson  could  not  have 
been  put  in  possession  of  this  in  time.  I  only 
received  it  last  night. . ,  .Your  letter  to  the  Duke 
of  Portland  is  replete  with  sound  reasoning;  but 
it  was  determined  to  abandon  Corsica,  in  case 
of  a  war  with  Spain,  a  year  ago."-— The  active 
mind  of  Nelson,  equally  impatient  with  that  of 
the  Admiral  to  execute  his  orders,  replied  on 
the  15th  of  October  to  Sir  J.  Jervis,  "As  far 
as  my  powers  and  abilities  go,  you  may  rely  on 
me  that  nothing  shall  be  left  undone  which  ought 
to  be  done,  even  should  it  be  necessary  to  knock 
down  Bastia.  Last  night  I  took  the  Viceroy 
and  Secretary  of  State  afloat;  and  at  daylight 
this  morning  \vent  to  General  de  Burgh,  and 
told  him,  that  from  the  embarkation  of  the 
Viceroy,  the  evacuation  and  regulation  of  this 
town  became  entirely  military,  and  of  course 
devolved  on  us.  I  hope  the  General  will  join 
me  cordially.  I  have  been  to  the  magazines  and 
have  arranged,  as  far  as  I  have  the  means,  the 
embarkation  of  provisions;  and  the  General  says 
he  will  have  proper  guards  to  keep  off  the  popu- 
lace. 1  have  recommended  to  him  to  send  for 
the  municipality,  and  to  tell  them  that  the  di- 
rection of  affairs  was  in  our  hands,  and  that  it 
would  be  at  their  peril  were  they  to  interfere  in 

2  A  2 


356 

the  embarkation  of  any  property  belonging  to 
us.     Had  not  tbe  ships  arrived  when  they  did, 
yesterday  would  have  lost  us  Bastia;  the  ships 
are  laid  opposite  the  town,  with  springs.     I  am 
sorry  to  say  the  convoy  with  Southampton,   is 
not  in  sight  and  it  is  calm,  th'2  Captain  is  not  at 
anchor:,  it  is  the  terror  of  the  ships  which  will 
keep  order  here.    If  you  could  order  a  ship  round 
and  two  transports,  they  would  be  very  useful. 
I  have  detached  a  felucca  to  prepare  Capraja, 
and  shall  send  Southampton  to  attend  at  Elba, 
but  that  evacuation  not  to  take  place  until  we 
are  finished  here,  which  according  to  the  present 
appearances   will  be  some  time.     Had  not  Elba 
been  ours,  our  Smyrna  convoy  and  transports,  I 
believe,  would  have  been  lost.     I  purpose  taking 
the  ships  from  Leghorn  when  we  are  absolutely 
all  afloat,   or  we  shall  have  swarms  of  privateers 
to  torment  us." 

(1796.)  Oct.  17,  in  continuation.  "I  have  re- 
ceived your  letter,  and  am  going  on  as  well  as 
a  heavy  surf  will  permit.  The  despatches  of  this 
morning  are  wonderful:  do  his  Majesty's  Minis- 
ters know  their  own  "minds?  If  you  stay,  we  are 
sure  of  the  coast  opposite  to  Elba  and  the  fine 
bay  of  Telamon.  It  does  not  become  me  to  say 
a  word:  the  national  honour  and  the  fate  of 
Italy  cannot,  I  am  confident,  be  placed  in  better 
hands  than  yours.  The  whole  weight  is  left  on 

•    *  Counter  orders  respecting  the  fleet. 


you.  October  18.  We  are  smoother  than  we 
have  been,  but  still  there  is  a  good  deal  of 
surf.  I  shall  strictly  attend  to  all  your  orders, 
and  will  write  more  fully  to  morrow." 

The  withdrawing  of  our  fleet  from  the  Mediter- 
ranean, in  consequence  of  the  expected  junction 
of  the  French  and  Spanish  squadrons,  was  by  no 
means  consonant  to  the  feelings  of  Nelson;  and 
whilst  his  mind  was  irritated  with  the  idea  of 
this  retreat,  he  had  thus  expressed  himself  in  a 
letter  to  his  wife.  "We  are  all  preparing  to 
leave  the  Mediterranean,  a  measure  which  I 
cannot  approve.  They  at  home  do  not  know 
what  this  Fleet  is  capable  of  performing;  any 
thing  and  every  thing.  Much  as  I  shall  rejoice 
to  see  England,  I  lament  our  present  orders  in 
sackcloth  and  ashes,  so  dishonourable  to  the  dig- 
nity of  England,  whose  fleets  are  equal  to  meet 
the  world  in  arms;  and  of  all  the  fleets  I  ever 
saw,  I  never  beheld  one  in  point  of  officers  and 
men  equal  to  Sir  John  Jervis's,  who  is  a  Com- 
mander in  Chief  able  to  lead  them  to  glory." 

The  Admiral  on  being  made  acquainted  with 
the  vast  superiority  of  the  Spanish  squadron, 
which  had  entered  the  Mediterranean  Sept.  S8th, 
determined  to  leave  his  station  off  Toulon  to  the 
care  of  Captain  Troubridge  in  the  Culioden, 
and  to  proceed  to  San  Fiorenzo  to  water,  and 
hasten  the  embarkation.  It  had  been  the  inten- 
tion of  the  Commodore,  on  hearing  of  Sir  John 
Jervis'  arrival  at  San  Fiorenzo,  to  have  gon$ 


358 
over  and  conversed  with  him.  but  this  not  beinjr 

»  o 

thought  prudent,  he  determined  to  remain  and 
act  with  the  Viceroy:  considerable  apprehen- 
sions had  been  entertained  on  the  night  of  the 
34th  that  the  citadel  would  be  lost,  from  the 
state  in  which  Bastia  was  at  that  time.  Still 
however,  the  zeal  and  resources  of  Nelson  found 
the  means  of  executing  the  important  service 
on  which  he  was  engaged.  By  the  ipth  the 
greater  part  of  the  flour,  and  all  the  salt  pro- 
visions were  on  board,  and  they  were  getting  off 
the  powder.  Noon,  Oct.  \§th.  "We  have  just 
received  accounts  from4the  municipality,  that  a 
number  of  French  have  landed  near  Cape  Corse 
and  have  sent  to  demand  of  the  municipality, 
•what  part  they  mean  to  take.  The  Viceroy  has 
informed  the  municipality,  that  we  wish  to  quit 
them  amicably  and  in  the  state  we  promised; 
but  if  they  permitted  the  French  to  enter  the 
town,  or  in  any  way  embarrassed  our  embarka- 
tion, that  it  would  end  in  the  destruction  of  the 
batteries  and  would  be  highly  detrimental  to 
Bastia.  We  shall  act  I  see  with  prudence  and 
retreat  in  time.  The  garrison  of  Capraja  is 
arrived." 

( 1 796. )  The  King  of  Naples  heard  with  conster- 
nation of  the  late  measure  that  had  been  adopted, 
and  beheld  the  ruin  of  his  kinjnlom  in  the  retreat 

o 

of  the  British  fleet.  His  Majesty  lost  no  time 
in  expressing  his  feelings  on  this  subject  to 
Sir  John  Jervis;  who,  on  the  19th  of  October/ 


359 

returned  the  following  answer  from  Fiorenzo 
Bay.  "Sire:  The  gracious  condescension  your 
Majesty  has  been  pleased  tc  shew  to  me,  ih  deline- 
ating under  your  royal  hand  the  dreadful  effect 
which  the  retreat  of  the  fleet  of  the  King  my 
master  from  these  seas,  would  have  upon  your 
Majesty's  dominions  and  upon  all  Italy  in  the 
present  crisis,  has  prompted  me  to  exert  every 
nerve,  to  give  all  the  support  in  my  power  to 
the  cause  of  Religion  and  Humanity  in  which 
we  are  engaged..  .Permit  me,  Sire,  to  express 
the  high  sense  I  entertain  of  your  Majesty's 
goodness  to  me,  and  to  assure  your  Majesty  that 
I  shall  be  proud  of  every  occasion  to  give  proof 
of  my  profound  respect." 

(1796.)  The  whole  of  the  evacuation  of  Bastia 
was  conducted  to  the  entire  satisfaction  of  the 
Viceroy,  of  General  de  Burgh,  and  of  the  Com- 
modore, who  afterwards  went  to  Porto  Ferrajo, 
whence  the  following  report  was  made  by  him 
to  the  Admiral,  dated  Captain,  Oct.  21.  "Sir, 
Between  the  14th,  when  I  arrived  at  Bastia,  and 
the  19th,  I  was  joined  by  Captain,  Excellent, 
Egmont,  and  Southampton.  The  ships  of  the 
line  were  moored  opposite  the  town.  The  em- 
barkation of  stores  and  provisions  which  com- 
menced on  the  loth,  was  continued  without  in" 
termission  until  the  19th  at  sunset.  In  that  night 
every  soldier  and  other  person  was  brought  off 
with  perfect  good  order  from  the  north  end  of 
the  town.  It  is  unnecessary  for  me  to  mention. 


360 

to  you  the  fatigue  of  the  whole  of  this  duty; 
but  I  cannot  omit  to  state  the  merit  of  every 
officer  employed  on  it,  and  most  particularly 
that  of  Lieut.  Day,  agent  for  transports;  and 
much  which  has  heen  saved  may  be  fairly  attri- 
buted, without  disparagement  to  any  one,  to  his 
indefatigable  attention  and  ahility.  The  Oapr 
tains  of  all  the  ships  of  war,  although  not  par- 
ticularly in  their  line  of  duty,  never  omitted 
night  and  day  their  personal  exertions.  This 
service  was  carried  on  with  the  utmost  cordiality 
between  his'  Excellency  the  Viceroy,  Lieutenant 
General  de  Burgh,  and  myself,  and  I  cannot  but 
think  it  right  to  inform  you  of  it." 
Anno  (1796.)  XVII.  During  the  active  scene 
in  which  Nelson  had  been  engaged,  his 
correspondence  with  the  Duke  of  Clarence  ex- 
perienced some  interruption;  but,  having  com- 
pleted this  important  service,  the  Commodore 
took  the  earliest  opportunity  to  send  information 
of  it  to  his  early  and  stedfast  friend,  dated 
Captain,  Oct.  25.  "Sir,  I  was  honoured  with 
your  Royal  Highness's  letter  of  Sept.  2d  a  few 
days  past,  in  the  midst  of  a  very  active  scene, 
the  evacuation  of  Bastia;  which  being  our  first 
post  was  intrusted  to  my  direction,  and  I  am 
happy  to  say,  that  not  only  Bastia,  but  every 
other  place  in  the  island  is  completely  evacuated. 
The  Corsicans  sent  to  Leghorn  for  the  French, 
as  was  natural  for  them,  in  order  to  make  their 
peace;  and  the  enemy  was  in  one  end  of  Bastia^ 


361 

before  we  had  quitted  the  other.  The  exertions 
of  the  Navy  on  this  occasion,  as  on  all  others 
which  I  have  seen,  have  been  great,  and  beyond 
the  expectations  of  those  who  never  will  believe 
what  we  are  capable  of  performing.  Our  troops 
are  ordered  to  Porto  Ferrajo,  which  can  be  de- 
fended against  any  number  of  the  enemy  for  a 
length  of  time;  and  the  port,  although  small, 
will  hold  with  management  our  whole  fleet  and 
transports.  As  soon  as  all  our  transports  are 
arrived  at  Elba,  we  are  to  go  out  to  look  for 
Man,  who  is  ordered  to  come  up:  we  shall  then 
be  twenty-two  sail  of  such  ships  as  England 
hardly  ever  produced,  and  commanded  by  an 
Admiral,  who  will  not  fail  to  look  the  enemy  in 
the  face,  be  their  force  what  it  may:  I  suppose 
it  will  not  be  more  than  thirty-four  sail  of  the 
line.  .  .  If  I  live,  your  Royal  Highness  shall  have 
no  reason  to  regret  your  friendship  for  me,  and 
I  will  support  Sir  John  Jervis  to  the  utmost  of 
my  power.  . .  I  hope  soon  to  hear  that  your  flag 
is  flying,  which  I  am  sure  will  be  most  honourable 
for  yourself  and  I  trust  most  advantageous  for 
our  King  and  County.  I  am,  as  ever,  your  most 
faithful  Horatio  Nelsop." 

On  the  llth  of  the  ensuing  month  of  Novem- 
ber, when  at  sea,  he  sent  a  full  account  of  the 
whole  proceeding  to  his  Royal  Highness.  "Sir, 
What  may  be  thought  in  England  of  our  evacua- 
tion of  Bastia  I  know  not,  but  I  conceive  myself 
J;o  have  a  fair  right  to  be  well  spoken  of,  as  the 


few  facts  which  I  shall  state  will  evince.  I  shall 
relate  them  to  your  Royal  Highness,  to  give  you 
an  idea  of  the  state  of  our  army  and  the  Viceroy 
on  my  arrival. 

"  On  the  14th  of  October  I  was  close  in  with 
Bastia,  before  daylight,  in  the  Diadem,  Captain 
To  wry.  Before  the  ship  anchored  I  went  on 
shore  to  the  Viceroy,  landing  opposite  to  his 
house.  I  found  his  Excellency  very  happy  at 
my  arrival,  and  he  immediately  requested  I 
would  permit  his  most  valuable  papers  to  be  sent 
off  in  uiy  boat,  for  it  was  impossible  to  say  how 
long  they  might  be  safe  on  shore.  The  Viceroy 
then  told  me  the  state  of  the  town  and  country: 
that  a  committee  of  thirty  had  taken  on  them 
the  government  of  the  town,  had  sequestered 
all  the  property  of  the  English  on  shore,  and  in 
the  Mole,  and  also  that  a  plan  was  laid  to  seize 
bis  person,  that  the  town  was  full  of  armed  Cor- 
sicans  who  had  mounted  guard  at  every  place, 
and  that  our  troops  were  in  the  citadel,  except 
the  guard  at  his  house. 

"From  the  Viceroy  I  went  to  General  de 
Purgh,  passing  through  the  town  full  of  armed 
men,  where  I  learned  that  as  many  armed  Cor- 
-sicans  as  British  were  in  the  citadel,  that  they 
had  mounted  guard  with  our  troops  at  the  citadel 
gate,  on  the  batteries,  barrier  gates,  and  at  the 
storehouses  of  government  and  of  the  merchants, 
and  that  it  was  necessary  for  our  troops  to  stand 
to  their  arms  for  self  defence;  in  short,  that 


363 

there  was  not  a  prospect  of  saving  either  stores, 
cannon,  or  provisions.  I  submitted  to  the  Ge- 
neral the  propriety  of  shutting  the  citadel  gate 
in  order  to  prevent  any  more  armed  men  from 
getting  into  it,  and  that  I  would  moor  the  ships 
opposite  to  the  town.  On  my  return  from  the 
General  and  the  Viceroy,  the  merchants,  owners 
and  captains  of  privateers,  came  to  me  in  tears, 
stating  the  fact  of  even  a  trunk  with  wearing 
apparel  being  refused  them,  and  that  they  were 
beggars  without  my  help:  a  transport's  boat  had, 
they  said,  been  refused  permission  to  leave  the 
Mole  until  she  was  searched,  and  on  nothing 
being  found  in  her  they  suffered  her  to  pass;  a 
privateer  was  moored  across  the  mole  heads.  I 
requested  them  to  be  quiet,  and  that  nothing 
should  be  left  undone  by  me  for  their  reivf. 
About  ten  A.  M.  the  Egmont,  Captain  Sutton, 
arrived,  which  I  moored  the  same  as  the  Diadem, 
At  noon,  having  made  the  signal  for  boats  manned 
and  armed,  I  ordered  Captain  To  wry  to  proceed 
into  the  Mole  with  them,  and  to  open  the  pa.-.- 
sage  for  all  the  vessels  who  chose  to  come  0'it; 
with  instructions  to  take  the  first  English  vessel 
he  came  to  in  tow,  and  if  he  met  with  the  small- 
est molestation  he  was  to  send  to  the  municipality 
in  my  name,  and  inform  them,  that  if  the  least 
impediment  were  thrown  in  the  way  in  getting 
any  vessel  out  of  the  Mole,  or  in  embarking  any 
property  belonging  to  the  English  from  thd 
town,  I  would  instantly  batter  it  down.  Captain 


364 

Sutton  very  handsomely  went  to  Towry's  assist- 
ance, for  on  the  approach  of  the  latter  to  the 
Mole  the  privateer  pointed  her  guns,  and  100 
muskets  were  levelled  from  the  Mole  head.  On 
this  Captain  Sutton  sent  my  message,  and  pulling 
out  his  watch  gave  them  one  quarter  of  an  hour 
for  an  answer,  M'hen  the  ships  would  in  five 
minutes  open  their  fire.  Upon  this  the  people 
on  board  the  privateer,  and  from  the  Mole  heads, 
even  to  the  Corsican  sentries,  quitted  the  place 
with  the  utmost  precipitation,  and  of  course 
every  vessel  came  out  of  the  Mole. 

"  In  the  afternoon  an  owner  of  a  privateer 
came  to  me  to  say,  he  had  forty  hogsheads  of 
tobacco  with  various  other  goods  in  the  custom- 
house, and  that  the  municipality  refused  to  deli- 
ver them:  I  directed  him  to  go  to  the  committee, 
and  say  I  sent  him  for  his  goods,  which  if 
not  instantly  delivered  I  would  open  my  fire. 
In  five  minutes  he  returned  with  the  keys,  and 
said  the  committee  turned  as  white  as  a  sheet, 
said  not  a  word,  but  gave  him  the  keys.  At 
night  they  made  an  effort  to  get  duty  paid  for 
some  wine  landed,  and  of  course  going  to  be 
embarked,  by  an  English  merchant.  I  had  only 
occasion  to  send  word  that  I  would  pay  them  a 
disagreeable  visit  if  I  had  any  more  complaints. 
This  was  a  last  effort;  from  that  moment  not  an 
armed  man  was  seen  in  the  street.  Bastia  never 
had  been  it  was  acknowledged  so  quiet  and 
orderly,  since  we  have  been  in  possession  of  thq 
island. 


365 

"The  Viceroy  consented  to  go  on  board  my 
ship  that  night,  which  took  off  from  the  General 
and  myself  all  concern  for  his  safety.  On  the 
15th  in  the  morning,  I  landed  my  troops  to  take 
post  at  the  Viceroy's  house,  which  covered  our 
embarking  place,  and  a  hundred  seamen  as  a 
working  party;  the  General  ordered  about  ano- 
ther hundred  men  from  the  troops,  for  the  same 
purpose,  and  the  rest  kept  post  in  the  citadel. 
We  set  heartily  to  work,  and  continued  without 

*/  f 

intermission  until  the    19th  at  sunset;    when   I 
calculate  we  had  saved  about  200. OOO/.  sterling; 

/  *  o 

worth  of  cannon,  powder,  stores,  and  provisions, 
exclusive  of  bago;ao;e,   household  stuff.  &c.  &c. 

oo    o    * 

for  the  poor  emigrees  could  not  afford  to  leave 
a  rag.     Our  boats  never  ceased  night  nor  day. 

"On  the  18th  the  French  had  landed  troops 
near  Cape  Corse,  about  thirty-six  miles  from 
Bastia.  On  the  19th  they  sent  a  message  to  the 
municipality,  desiring  to  know  how  they  intended 
to  receive  them:  if  as  friends,  they  demanded 
that  the  English  should  be  prevented  from  em- 
barking. In  this  state  nothing  more  could  be 
attempted  to  be  saved:  therefore  at  twelve  at 
night  our  troops  quitted  the  citadel,  first  spiking 
the  guns,  and  came  to  the  north  end  of  the  town, 
where  there  is. an  open  line  of  ground  on  which 
they  could  act  in  case  of  being  attacked.  The 
French  passing  at  the  back  of  the  town  were  in 
the  citadel  at  one  A.  M.  From  its  blowing  a 
gale  of  wind,  it  was  the  dawn  of  day  when  the 


366 

General  and  myself b  went  into  the  barge,  tiot 
one  man  being  left  ashore;  and  we  took  with  us 
the  two  field  pieces  brought  down  to  cover  our 
retreat.  It  is  impossible  I  can  do  justice  to  the 
good  dispositions  of  the  General,  or  the  admirable 
management  of  the  Viceroy  with  the  Corsicans, 
not  one  of  whom  but  wept  on  parting  with  the 
latter:  even  those  who  had  opposed  his  adminis- 
tration could  not  but  love  and  respect  so  amiable 
a  character.  It  was  clear  the'dread  of  the  French 
was  more  predominant  in  their  minds,  than  dis~- 
like  to  us;  and  it' was  this  perhaps  that  led 
them  to  their  first  unjustifiable  resolutions,  and 
which  nothing  but  the  terror  of  our  ships  kept 
them  from  adhering  to.  At  this  time  the  Spa- 
nish Fleet  was  off  Cape  Corse,  but  we  had  a  fair 
wind,  and  before  night  I  had  every  vessel  safe 
moored  in  Porto  Ferrajo,  for.  its  size  the  most 
complete  port  in  the  world." 

(1796.)  When  writing  to  Captain  Locker,  Nov. 
5th,  the  Commodore  had  said,  "I  have  seen  the 
first  and  the  last  of  Corsica.  Its  situation  cer- 

b  Commodore  Nelson  was  the  last  person  who  left  the  shore/ 
On  getting  into  his  boat  he  turned  round  to  the  Corsican  mob, 
and  with  the  coolness  of  a  sailor  anathematised  the  whole  of  their 
ungrateful  race,  adding.  Now  Jofin  Corse,  foiloiv  the  natural  lent 
of  your  ilctistal'k  character,  plunder,  and  revenge.  Seneca,  when 
describing  the  Corsicans  of  his  day,  used  nearly  the  sauae  ex- 
preisions : 

Lex  prima  ulcisci,  lex  altera  vivere  rapto, 
Tertia  meutiri,  cjuarta  negare  Decs. 


tainly  was  most  desirable  for  us,  but  the  gene- 
rality of  its  inhabitants  are  so  greedy  of  wealth 
and  so  jealous  of  each  other,  that  it  would  have 
required  the  patience  of  Job  and  the  riches  of 
Croesus  to  satisfy  them.  They  acknowledge  they 
are  only  to  he  ruled  by  the  governing  t  power 
destroying  all  its  enemies,  and  bribing  all  its 
friends:  they  already  regret  our  departure.  I 
need  not  give  you  the  character  of  Sir  J.  Jervis, 
you  know  him  well,  therefore  I  shall  only  say  he 
is  worthy  of  such  a  fleet  as  I  never  before  saw 
at  sea;  for  he  knows  how  to  use  us  in  the  most 
beneficial  manner  for  our  Country.  Towry  can 
want  no  recommendation  to  me,  or  Sir  John; 
his  courage  and  abilities  as  a  commander  have 
been  eminently  displayed,  and  his  qualities  as  a 
gentleman  are  equalled  by  few  and  exceeded  by 
none,  I  am  under  .particular  obligations  to  him. 
My  pendant  was  in  his  ship  for  three  weeks,  and 
nothing  could  surpass  his  goodness  to  me.  I 
know  Sir  John  Jervis  has  the  highest  regard  for 
him." 

The  next  important  service  on  which  the  Com- 
modore was  engaged  was  the  evacuation  of  Porto 
Ferrajo;  and  to  this  Sir  John  Jervis  had  alluded, 
in  a  note,  in  which  he  marked  the  neglect  which 
too  many  officers  experienced  who  served  at  a 
distance  from  the  immediate  notice  of  their 
country.  "  Without  giving  Lord  Spencer  a 
greater  degree  of  credit  than  is  due  to  any  mi- 
nister, he  certainly  is  sincere  in  his  professions 


368 

to  you;  because  he  has  written  to  me  fully  re- 
specting you,  and  has  promoted  Berry.  Unfor- 
tunately for  those  who  serve  at  a  distance,  and 
do  not  publish  their  own  achievements  in  the 
newspapers,  the  value  of  their  services  is  never 
made  known  to  John  Bull;  and  they  who  dispense 
patronage  are  niggardly  to  them,  while  they  are 
profuse  to  the  young  men  in  frigates,  employed 
to  protect  the  trade,  or  the  coast.  I  have  much 
to  say,  and  shall  very  soon  have  to  employ  you 
on  a  most  critical  and  arduous  service.  Most 
faithfully  yours."  Accordingly  on  December 
the  10th,  Nelson  received  an  order  to  hoist 
his  broad  pendant  on  board  the  Minerve  frigate, 
Captain  George  Cockburn,  and  to  take  the 
Blanche,  Captain  Preston,  under  his  command, 
and  with  them  to  proceed  to  Porto  Ferrajo,  in 
order  with  the  assistance  of  the  ships  in  that 
port  to  convey  the  troops  and  stores  that  had 
been  landed  there  to  Gibraltar  and  Lisbon. 
"Having  experienced,"  added  the  Admiral,  "the 
most  important  effects  from  your  enterprise  and 
ability  upon  various  occasions,  since  I  have  had 
the  honour  to  command  in  the  Mediterranean, 
I  leave  entirely  to  your  judgment  the  time  and 
manner  of  carrying  this  critical  and  arduous  ser- 
vice into  execution." 

(1796.)  During  the  passage  to  Porto  Ferrajo 
the  Commodore  fell  in  with  two  Spanish  frigates; 
and  the  following  letters  to  his  Admiral,  dated 
Dec.  20,  give  the  official  account  of  the  capture 


369 

and  recapture  of  la  Sabina.  "Sir,  Last  night  at 
ten  o'clock,  I  saw  two  Spanish  frigates,  and  di- 
rected Captain  Cockburn  in  the  Minerve  to 
attack  the  ship  which  carried  a  poop  light;  the 
Blanche  bore  down  to  attack  the  other.  I  have 
not  yet  received  from  Captain  Preston  an  ac- 
count of  his  action,  but  as  I  saw  the  Blanche  this 
morning  to  windward  with  every  sail  set,  I  pre- 
sume she  has  not  suffered  much  damage.  Cap- 
tain Cockburn  brought  his  ship  to  close  action 
at  twenty  minutes  before  eleven,  which  con- 
tinued without  intermission  until  half  past  one 
A.  M.  when  la  Sabina  of  40  guns,  twenty-eight 
eighteen  pounders  on  her  main-deck,  and  286 
men,  Captain  Don  Jacobo  Stuart,  having  lost 
her  mizen  mast,  as  she  did  after  the  action  her 
main  and  fore  masts,  and  having  164  men  killed 
and  wounded,  struck  her  colours.  You  are,  Sir, 
so  thoroughly  acquainted  with  the  merits  of 
Captain  Cockburn,0  that  it  is  needless  for  me^to 
express  them;  but  the  discipline  of  the  Minerve 
does  the  highest  credit  to  her  Captain  and  Lieu- 
tenants, and  I  wish  fully  to  declare  the  sense 
I  entertain  of  their  judgment  and  gallantry. 
Lieutenant  dCulverhouse,  the  first  lieutenant,  is 
an  old  officer  of  distinguished  merit.  Lieutenants 

e  At  present  Commander  of  the  Pompee,  74  guns,  in  which 
Ship  he  particularly  distinguished  himself  as  Commodore  of  part 
of  the  Naval  force  at  the  taking  of  Martinique,  180p. 

d  Lately  lost  by  the  upsetting  of  a  boat  at  the  Cape  of  Good 
Hope. 


370 

Hardy,  Gage,  and  Noble,  deserve  every  praise 
which  gallantry  and  zeal  justly  entitle  them  to, 
as  does  every  other  officer  and  man  in  the  ship. 
You  will  observe,  Sir,  I  am  sure  with  regret, 
amongst  the  wounded,  lieutenant  James  Noble, 
who  quitted  the  Captain  to  serve  with  me,  and 
whose  merit  and  repeated  wounds  received  in 
fighting  the  enemies  of  our  Country,  entitle  him 
to  every  reward  which  a  grateful  nation  can 
bestow.  The  Minerve's  opponent  being  com- 
manded by  a  gallant  officer,  was  well  defended, 
which  has  caused  her  liste  of  killed  and  wounded 
to  be  great,  as  also  her  masts,  sails,  and  rigging 
to  be  much  damaged:'* 

Dec.  20,  seven  P.  M.  in  continuation.  "Sir,  In 
addition  to  my  letter  of  this1  morning,  I  have  to 
acquaint  you  that  lieutenants  Culverhouse  and 
Hardy,  with  a  proper  number  of  men,  being  put  in 
charge  of  la  Sabina  and  she  taken  in  tow,  at  four 
A.  M.  a  frigate  was  seen  coming  up,  which  by 
her  signals  was  known  to  be  Spanish;  at  half 
past  four  she  came  to  action  with  the  Minerve, 
who  cast  off  the  prize,  and  lieutenant  Culver- 
liouse  was  directed  to  stand  to  the  southward. 
After  a  trial  of  strength  of  more  than  half  an 


o 


e  Killed  7,  ivounded  34,  mining  4,  supposed  to  be  in  the  prize. 
Officers  -wounded,  Lieutenant  J.  Noble,  Mr.  Menyweather,  boat- 
swain. Petty  Officers  killed  and  "wounded ,  one  Midshipman  killed. 
Captain's  clerk  wounded,  and  the  serjeant  of  the  llth  regiment 
serving  as  marines. —  Damages.  All  her  masts  shot  through,  and 
furniture  much  cut. 


371 

hour,  she  wore  and  hauled  off,  or  I  am  confident 
she  would  have  shared  the  fate  of  her  companion  i 
at  this  time  three  other  ships  were  seen  standing 
for  the  Minerve,  hope  was  alive  that  they  were 
only  frigates,  and  also  that  the  Blanche  was  one 
of  them;  but  when  the  day  dawned,  it  was  mor- 
tifying to  see  there  were  two  Spanish  ships  of 
the  line  and  two  frigates,  and  the  Blanche  far 
to  windward.     In  this  situation,  the  enemy  fre- 
quently within  shot  by  bringing  up  the  breeze, 
it  required  all  the  skill  of  Captain  Cockburn, 
which  he  eminently  displayed,  to  get  off  with  a 
crippled  ship:  and  here  I  must  also  do  justice  to 
lieutenants  Culverhouse  and  Hardy,  and  express 
my  tribute  of  praise  at  their  management  of  the 
prize;  a  frigate  repeatedly  firing  into  her  with- 
out effect,  and  at  last  the  Spanish  Admiral  quit- 
ted the  pursuit  of  the  Minerve  for  that  of  la 
Sabina,  which  was  steering  a  different  course,  evi- 
dently with  the  intention  of  attracting  the  notice 
of  the  Admiral,  as  English  colours  were  hoisted 
over  the  Spanish.     The  Sabina's  main  and  fore 
masts  fell  overboard  before  she  surrendered.  This 
is,  Sir,  an  unpleasant  tale,  but  the  merits  of  every 
officer  and  man  in  the  Minerve  and  her  prize, 
were  eminently  conspicuous  through  the  whols 
of  this  arduous  day.f    The  enemy  quitted  the 
pursuit  of  the  Minerve  at  dark." 

f  Killed,  nonej    ivounded  10.     Officer  ivouniUd,   Mr.  Hunter, 
gunner. — Main-mast  much  damaged,  sails  and  rigging  much  cut. 

2  B  2 


373 

The  Minerve  arrived  at  Porto  Ferrajo  on  the 
27th  of  December,  and  was  there  repaired;  her 
main  and  mizen  masts  were  so  badly  wounded 
that  the   builder  reported   them  unfit  for  use. 
On  the  29th  the  Commodore  sent  the  Admiral, 
Captain  Preston's  official  account  of  the  sharfc 
which  the  Blanche  had  taken  in  the  late  action; 
by  which  it  appeared,  That  when  the  unexpected 
approach  of  the  fresh  Spanish  ships  had  prevent- 
ed Captain  Preston  from  taking  possession  of 
his  prize,  he  wore  to  join  the  Minerve;  but  per- 
ceiving that  the  strange  ships  did  not  close  with 
his  late  antagonist,  he  had  again  stood  after  her, 
when  the  Spaniard  outsailed  the  Blanche  and  had 
been  joined  by  another  ship. standing  from  the 
land.      Captain  Preston  particularly  mentioned 
the  steadiness  of  his  first  lieutenant  Mr.  Cowen, 
and  the  great  assistance  he  had  received  from 
Captain  Maitland  who  was  a  passenger  on  board 
to  join  his  ship. — On  the  same   day,   Dec.  29, 
Nelson  transmitted  the  following  note  in  a  flag 
of  truce  by  the  Fortuna,  Lieutenant  Gourly,  to 
Don   Miguel   Gaston   the   Captain    General  at 
Carthagena:   "I  send  your  Excellency  a  flag  of 
truce  which  carries  every  Spanish  prisoner  from 
this  place,  and  I  request  that  your  Excellency 
will  direct  the  English  prisoners  with  you  to  be 
immediately  sent  on  board.     I  shall  not  urge  the 
humanity  attending  the  frequent  exchange  of 
•unfortunate  people;  it  will,  I  am  sure,  appear  in 


3/3 

the  same  light  to  you  that  it  does  to  your  Excel- 
lency's most  obedient  servant,  Horatio  Nelson." 

On  the  29th  of  December  he  also  transmitted 
to  Sir  John  Jervis  a  correspondence  with  Lieu- 
tenant General  de  Burgh,  who  not  having  re- 
ceived any  order  whatever  from  England,  felt 
himself  considerably  embarrassed  in  withdrawing 
the  army  from  Elba;  and  was  of  opinion  that  no 
decisive  steps  could  be  taken  or  entered  on,  until 
they  had  heard  from  England,  Naples,  or  both, 
unless  something  serious  should  precipitate  the 
measure,  "I  will  at  the  same  time,"  added  the 
General,  in  a  letter  dated  Dec.  28,  "  confess  that 
my  only  motive  for  urging  delay,  arises  from  a 
wish  to  have  my  proceedings  in  some  measure 
sanctioned  by  orders  we  ought  to  expect,  and 
by  no  means  from  an  idea  that  we  assist  the  ser- 
vice by  staying  here;  for  1  have  always  held  the 
opinion,  that  the  signing  of  a  Neapolitan  peace 
with  France  ought  to  be  our  signal  for  departure." 

(1797.)  In  writing  to  Mrs,  Nelson,  from  Porto 
Ferrajo,  Jan.  13,  he  said,  "I  expect  Sir  Gilbert 
Elliot  here  every  hour,  he  goes  down  to  Gibral- 
tar with  me;  he  is  a  good  man,  and  I  love  him. 
As  to  peace,  I  do  not  expect  it,  Lord  Malmesbury 
Avill  come  back  as  he  went;  but  the  people  of 
England  will,  I  trust,  be  more  vigorous  fo#  the 
prosecution  of  the  war,  which  can  alone  insure 
an  honourable  peace.  Naples  is  alarmed  at  hers. 
The  French  Minister  is  travelling  thither  with 
a  train  of  300  persons,  a  printipg-press,  &c,  and 


374 

a  company  of  comedians,  &c.  The  Pope  has  not 
made  his  peace,  and  is  most  seriously  alarmed." 

(1797.)  The  indefatigable  Commodore  was  at 
this  time  extremely  anxious  to  return  to  Sir  John 
Jervis;  the  superior  strength  of  the  enemy  re- 
quired every  addition  to  be  made  to  his  force, 
and  the  possibility  of  being  absent  when  a  gene- 
ral Action  should  take  place,  under  such  aa 
Admiral,  had  long  irritated  and  depressed  the 
mind  of  Nelson.  That  nothing  might  be  wanting 
on  his  part,  he  intended  in  his  passage  down 
the  Mediterranean,  as  he  informed  the  Admiral, 
January  25th,  to  look  into  Toulon,  Mahon,  and 
Carthagena,  in  order  to  bring  with  him  the  latest 
apparent  state  of  the  combined  fleet;  and  al- 
though General  de  Burgh  had  not  thought  him- 
self empowered  to  evacuate  Porto  Ferrajo,  "yet," 
adds  the  Commodore,  "  1  have  notwithstanding 
withdrawn  all  our  naval  establishment  from  that 
place,  having  first  completed  every  ship  to  as 
many  stores  as  their  Captains  pleased  to  take. 
Every  transport  is  victualled,  and  so  arranged 
that  all  the  soldiers  and  stores  can  be  embarked 
in  three  days." 

On  the  29th  of  January,  the  Minerve  sailed 
from  Porto  Ferrajo,  with  some  other  ships  of 
•war,  and  twelve  sail  of  transports;  and  on  the 
10th  of  February  arrived  at  Gibraltar,  where 
the  Commodore  received  Lieutenants  Culver- 
house  and  Hardy,  with  the  other  prisoners  who 
had  been  exchanged  by  the  Spaniards.  He  re- 


375 

mained  one  day  at  Gibraltar,  and  then  proceexled 
to  the  westward  to  rejoin  his  Admiral.  The 
£Minerve  was  chased  by  two  Spanish  line  of 
battle  ships  from  the  bay,  and  fell  in  with  the 
Spanish  Fleet  off  the  moutb  of  the  Straits. 

(1797-)  XVIII.  Owing  to  the  easterly  winds, 
it  was  the  6'th  of  February  before  Sir  John  Jervis 
had  reached  his  station  off  Cape  St.  Vincent;  and 
in  writing  to  Mr.  Lempriere  the  Consul  at  Faro 
on  that  clay,  the  Admiral  had  said,  "  I  am  with- 
out the  smallest  intelligence  respecting  the  move- 
ments of  the  Spanish  Fleet;  its  continuance  at 
Carthagena  for  such  a  length  of  time  is  incom- 
prehensible, unless  waiting  for  supplies  of  stores 
and  provisions." — On  the  10th  he  informed  Cap- 
tain Lord  Garlics  that  information  had  been 
received  of  the  Spanish  Fleet  having  passed  the 
Straits;  and  had  ordered  him  to  join  with  the 
squadron  under  his  command.  On  the  13th  of 
February  the  Minefve  reached  the  station  off 

*  From  A  Narrative,  published  by  Johnson,  1797^  of  the  Pro- 
ceedings of  the  British  Fleet  on  the  14th  of  February,  as  observed 
from  the  Lively  repeating  frigate,  by  Colonel  Drinkwater.  Nel- 
son in  his  memoir  (page  25)  has  referred  to  this  accurate  letter, 
which  has  been  occasionally  resorted  to  in  the  subsequent  account 
of  this  memorable  action.  The  Colonel  informs  us,  That  on  the 
Minerve's  joining  the  British  Fleet,  the  Lively  frigate  was  ap- 
pointed to  proceed  with  Sir  Gilbert  Elliot,  and  the  gentlemen 
accompanying  him  to  England;  but  there  being  at  that  time 
reason  to  expect  an  approaching  Action  between  the  two  fleets,  the 
Lively,  at  the  joint  solicitations  of  Sir  Gilbert  Elliot  and  Lord 
Garlie^  was  detained  %ath  the  squadron  until  the  event  should 
be  known. 


376. 

Cape  St.  Vincent,  and  the  same  day  having  com- 
municated some  important  intelligence  to  the 
Admiral  respecting  the  force  and  situation  of 
the  Spanish  Fleet,  the  Commodore  M'as  directed 
to  shift  his  broad  pendant  on  board  the  Captain, 
R.  \V.  Miller,  Esq.  Commander.  During  the  same 
evening  Captain  Lindsay,  in  the  Bonne  Citoy- 
enne  sloop,  arrived  with  fresh  accounts  of  the 
approach  of  the  enemy.  Before  sunset  the  sig- 
nal was  made  to  prepare  for  battle,  and  to  keep 
in  close  order  during  the  night.  Further  infor- 
mation respecting  the  Spaniards  was  also  given 
by  Captain  Campbell,11  an  Englishman  in  the 
Portuguese  service. 

During  the  whole  of  the  13th,  Sir  John  Jervis, 
as  he  expressed  himself  on  that  day  in  a  letter 
to  the  Admiralty,  had  entertained  hopes  of  fall- 
ing in  with  the  Spanish  Fleet;  and  these  hopes 
"were,"  as  he  said,  "confirmed  that  night,1  by 
our  distinctly  hearing  the  report  of  their  signal 
guns,  and  by  intelligence  received  from  Captain 
Foote  of  the  Niger,  who  had  with  equal  judg- 
ment and  perseverance  kept  company  with  them 
for  several  days  on  my  prescribed  rendezvous, 
which  from  the  strong  south  east  winds  I  had 

fc  This  officer,  who  received  great  kindness  from  Sir  John  Jervis, 
is  said  to  have  declared  to  the  Captain  of  the  British  Fleet,  that  if 
he  did  not  lead  the  Admiral  in  the  right  track  to  fall  in  with  the 
Spanish  Fleet,  he  might  order  him  to  be  run  up  at  the  yard-arm. 
Some  further  particulars  of  Captain  Campbell  are  given  in  a  note 
in  the  second  volume  of  the  quarto  edition. 

»  Official  account  of  the  action,  dated  February  16, 1797. 


377 

never  been  able  to  reach,  that  they  were  not 
more  than  three  or  four  leagues  from  us." 

The  anxious  hours  of  the  night  until  the  dawn 
of  the  14th  were  passed  by  the  Admiral  in  me- 
ditating a  design,  which  the  most  determined 
mind  would  have  hesitated  to  adopt,  without 
that  reliance  on  the  zeal,  discipline,  and  valour 
of  his  Fleet,  and  the  attachment  both  of  his 
officers  and  men,  which  Sir  John  Jervis  had  ob- 
tained. Nor  would  the  confidence,  as  it  appeared 
which  he  reposed  in  these  great  resources,  have 
alone  induced  him  to  make  so  daring  an  attempt, 
which  he  foresaw  nothing  short  of  success  could 
justify:  The  honour  of  his  Majesty's  arms,  and  the 
circumstances  of  the  war  in  those  seas  requiring  a 
considerable  degree  of  enterprise,  formed  the  official 
defence  of  the  Admiral  against  the  apparent  te- 
merity of  assailing  an  enemy  so  much  his  superior: 
a  safe  and  skilful  retreat  would  have  satisfied 
both  the  expectation  of  the  Country,  and  the 
ambition  of  an  ordinary  chief.  To  the  bitter 
mortification  of  having  been  forced  to  yield  the 
Mediterranean  to  a  superior  enemy,  were  to  be 
added  many  severe  losses  and  disasters  against 
which  no  foresight  could  have  guarded,  and  for 
which  no  remedy  could  be  provided. 

(1797.)  Such  had  been  the  situation  of  the 
British  Admiral,  when  at  sunset  on  -the  evening 
of  the  13th  of  February,  the  signals  of  the  day 
terminated  with  that  for  directing  the  Squadron 
to  keep  in  close  order  during  the  night.  Nor 


378 

was  the  situation  of  the  Spanish  Vice  Admiral, 
D.  Joseph  de  Cordova,  less  critical,  notwith- 
standing his  superiority  offeree.  He  had  sailed 
from  Carthagena  on  the  4th  of  February,  and 
on  the  5th  had  passed  Gibraltar,  when  he  heard 
from  an  American  who  had  fallen  in  with  the 
English  Squadron  the  preceding  day,  that  it 
consisted  of  nine  ships  of  the  line  only,  which 
was  indeed  the  fact  at  that  time;  for  Admiral 
Parker  with  a  reinforcement  of  five  ships,  and 
the  Culloden  which  had  parted  company  in  chace 
on  the  first  of  February,  had  not  then  joined. 
This  information  had  induced  the  Spanish  Ad- 
miral to  pass  by  Cadiz,  and  seek  an  engagement 
with  an  enemy  he  deemed  so  inferior.  On  the 
14th  when  the  day  broke,  a  fog  at  first  concealed 
from  him  the  exact  number  of  the  English  Squa- 
dron; and  afterwards,  when  the  signal  was  made 
from  one  of  his  own  look-out  ships,  that  the  Bri- 
tish Fleet  was  at  no  great  distance;  the  Spanish 
Admiral  relying  on  the  American's  intelligence 
and  erroneously  despising  the  British  force,  had 
paid  no  attention  to  it,  but  suffered  his  ships  to 
remain  too  far  extended  and  in  a  certain  degree 
of  disorder.  The  Spanish  look-out  ship  finding 
her  signal  thus  disregarded,  in  order  to  rouse 
the  Admiral,  as  the  Captain  of  her  afterwards 
expressed  himself,  instantly  made  another  signal, 
That  the  English  force  consisted  of  forty  sail  of  the 
line-  This  sudden  and  alarming  information  had 
piore  than  its  in-tended  effect;  it  perplexed  and 


379 

confounded  the  Commander  in  Chief,  and  spread 
a  general  alarm  throughout  the  Spanish  Fleet. 

Whilst  this  trepidation  pervaded  every  ship  of 
the  enemy,  Sir  John  Jervis,  to  continue  his  own 
words,  had  anxiously  waited  the  dawn  of  day; 
when  being  on  the  starboard  tack,  Cape  St. 
Vincent  bearing  east  by  north  eight  leagues,  he 
had  the  satisfaction  of  seeing  a  number  of  ships 
extending  from  south  west  to  south,  the  wind 
then  at  west  by  south.  His  ships  during  the 
night  had  been  kept  in  the  most  compact  order 
of  sailing,k  and  at  daybreak  were  seen  by  Colonel 
Drink  water  from  the  Lively,  formed  in  two 
divisions,  standing  on  a  wind  to  the  S.  S.  W.1 
About  half  past  six  A.  M.  the  Culloden,  Captain 
Troubridge,  made  the  signal  for  five  sail  in  the 
S.  W.  by  S.  quarter,  which  had  been  soon  after 
confirmed  by  the  Lively  frigate,  Lord  Garlics, 
and  by  the  Niger,  Captain  E.  J.  Foote,  and  that 
the  "strange  sail  were  by  the  wind  on  the  star- 
board tack:  the  Bonne  Citoyenne  sloop  of  war, 
Captain  Lindsay,  was  therefore  directed  to  re- 
connoitre. At  a  quarter  past  eight  o'clock,  the 
Squadron  was  ordered  by  signal  to  form  in  close 
order,  and  in  a  few  minutes  afterwards  the  signal 

k  So  obedient  were  the  Captains  to  the  orders  of  their  Admiral, 
that  every  one  of  the  English  ships  might  have  been  hailed  during 
the  night,  from  the  ship  next  to  her. 

1  The  first  plate  annexed  to  Colonel  Drink-water' s  Narrative 
represents  this  position  with  the  utmost  exactness. 

m  Colonel  Drinkwater's  Narrative,  page  10. 


380 

was  repeated  to  prepare  for  battle.  About  half 
past  nine  o'clock  the  Culloden,  Blenheim,  Cap- 
tain T.  L.  Frederick,  and  Prince  George,  Admiral 
Parker,  Captain  T.  Irwin,  were  ordered  to  chase 
in  the  S.  by  W.  quarter;  which  ships,  upon  the 
Bonne  Cito3^enne's  making  a  signal  that  she 
saw  eight  sail  in  that  quarter,  were  afterwards 
strengthened  by  the  Irresistible,  Captain  G. 
Martin,  Colossus,  Captain  G.  Murray,  and  Orion, 
Sir  J.  Saumarez.  Soon  after  ten  o'clock  the 
Mi  nerve,  Captain  G.  Cockburn,  made  the  signal 
for  twenty  sail  in  the  S.  W.  quarter,  and  in  a 
few  minutes  of  eight  sail  in  the  S.  by  W.  Half 
an  hour  afterwards  the  Bonne  Citoyenne  made 
the  signal  that  she  could  distinguish  sixteen, 
and  immediately  afterwards  twenty-five  of  the 
strange  ships  to  be  of  the  line.  The  enemy's 
fleet  were  now  become  visible  to  all  the  British 
squadron. 

By  carrying  a  press  of  sail,  Sir  John  Jervis 
was  fortunate  in  getting  in  at  this  time  with  the 
enemy's  ships,  before  they  had  been  able  to  con- 
nect and  form  a  regular  order  of  battle:  such  a 
moment,  as  he  expressed  himself  in  his  official 
letter,  was  not  to  be  lost.  Confident  in  the  skill, 
valour,  and  discipline  of  his  officers  and  men, 
he  felt  himself  justified  in  departing  from  the 
regular  system;  and  passing  through  their  fleet 
in  a  line  formed  with  the  utmost  celerity,  tacked, 
and  thereby  separated  one  third  from  the  main 
body,  after  a  partial  cannonade.  The  high  dis- 


381 

tinction  of  leading  into  action  fell  to  the  Cullo- 
den,  Captain  Troubridge;  about  half  past  eleven 
o'clock  the  firing  commenced  from  his  shipagainst 
the  enemy's  headmost  ships  to  windward. 

A  copy  of  the  log-book  of  H.  M.  S.  the  Captain, 
Commodore  Nelson,  gives  the  following  correct 
relation  of  her  proceedings,  on  the  morning  of 
the  14th  of  February.  "  Between  two  and  three 
o'clock  A.  M.  heard  the  report  of  several  guns 
to  the  southward  which  we  supposed  to  be  the 
Spanish  Fleet,  as  we  knew  it  to  be  near  us.  At 
four,  the  Victory  south  one  mile;  at  daylight 
made  the  signal  for  a  strange  sail  to  the  north- 
ward. At  half  past  five  heard  the  report  of  two 
guns,  S.  W.  At  half  past  eight  set  the  mainsail. 
At  ten,  up  mainsail;  moderate  and  foggy.  At 
half  past  ten  saw  the  Spanish  Fleet  bearing  S.S.E. 
four  or  five  miles;  the  signal  to  form  the  line 
and  chase  the  enemy.  At  twenty  minutes  before 
twelve  the  headmost  ships  of  our  line  began  to 
engage  the  enemy  as  they  passed  us  on  the  other 
tack,  Cape  St.  Vincent  bearing  north  ten  leagues. 
A  few  minutes  before  noon  we  opened  our  fire 
on  their  leading  ship  and  passed  nineteen  sail  of 
the  line,  giving  and  receiving  as  we  passed,  our 
leading  ships  having  eight  of  their  rear  ships  to 
tack  by  breaking  the  line." 

The  animated  and  regular  fire  of  the  British 
squadron,  as  viewed  at  this  time  from  the  Lively 
frigate  by  Sir  Gilbert  Elliot  and  Colonel  Drink- 


382 

water,"  was  but  feebly  returned  by  the  enemy's 
ships  to  windward,  which  being  frustrated  in 
their  attempts  to  join  the  separated  division,  had 
been  obliged  to  haul  their  wind  on  the  larboard 
tack:  those  to  leeward,  and  which  were  most 
effectually  cut  off  from  their  main  body,  at- 
tempted also  to  form  on  their  larboard  tack,  ap- 
parently with  a  determination  of  either  passing 
through,  or  to  leeward  of  GUI'  line,  and  joining 
their  friends;  but  the  warm  reception  they  met 
with  from  the  centre  ships  of  our  Squadron,  soon 
obliged  them  to  put  about,  and  excepting  one, 
the  whole  sought  safety  in  flight,  and  did  not 
again  appear  in  the  action  until  the  close  of  the 
day. 

The  single  Spanish  ship  thus  mentioned  by 
Colonel  Drinkwater  as  not  having  put  about 
with  her  companions,  is  described  by  him  as 
persevering  in  passing »to  leeward  of  the  British 
line,  and  being  covered  with  smoke  her  intention 
was  not  discovered  until  she  had  reached  the 
rear;  when  she  was  not  permitted  to  pass  without 
notice,  but  received  the  fire  of  our  sternmost 
ships,  and  as  she  luffed  round  the  rear,  the  Live- 
ly and  other  frigates  had  also  the  honour  of  ex- 
changing with  this  two-decker  several  broadsides. 

A  part  of  the  Admiral's  plan  having  been  thus 
crowned  with  success,  he  was  now  able  to  direct 
his  attention  to  the  enemy's  main  body  to  wind- 

«  Colonel  Drink  water's  Narrative,  page  12. 


383 

ward,  consisting  at  this  time  of  eighteen  sail  of 
the  line.     At  eight  minutes0  past  twelve  the  sig- 
nal therefore  was  made  for  the  British  Fleet  to 
tack  in  succession,  and  soon  after  he  made  the 
signal  for  again  passing  the  enemy's  line.     The 
Spanish  Admiral's  plan  seemed  to  have  been  to 
join  his  ships  to  leesvard,  by  wearing  round  the 
rear  of  our  line,  and  the  ships  which  had  passed 
and   exchanged  shots  with   our  squadron,   had 
actually  borne  up  with  this  view.     This  design 
of  D.Joseph  cle  Cordova,  more  ably  conceived 
than  executed,  was  frustrated  by  the  extraordi- 
nary presence  of  mind  and  enterprise  of  Commo- 
dore Nelson,   whose  station  in  the  rear  of  the 
British  line,  afforded  him  an  opportunity  of  ob- 
serving this  manoeuvre  of  the  Spaniards;  and  who, 
well  knowing  that  his  Commander  in  Chief  al- 
lowed a  considerable  degree  of  discretion  to  the 
gallantry  and  judgment  of  his  approved  officers, 
executed  the  following  bold  and  decisive  exploit, 
without  dreading    any    signal   of  recal.       "At 
eighteen  minutes  before  one  P.  M."  according 
to    the  Commodore's   Log-book,    "  the  Captain 
having  passed  on  the  starboard  tack  the  last  of 
the  enemy's  line  of  nineteen  sail,  which  were  on 
the  larboard  tack,   the  Spanish  Admiral  in  the 
Santissirna  Trinidad  bore  up,   evidently  with  a 
design  to  join  a  division  of  his  fleet  of  eight  sail 
of  the  line,  which  were  on  the  Captain's  lee  bow, 

0  Colonel  Drinkwater's  Narrative,  page  13. 


384 

on  which  the  Commodore  ordered  the  ship  to  be 
wore;  when,  passing  between  the  Diadem  and 
Excellent,  she  was  immediately  engaged  by  the 
Santissima  Trinidad  a  four-decked  ship,  and  two 
other  three-deckers  and  several  two-deckers;  so 
that  at  one  time  we  were  engaged  by  nine  line 
of  battle  ships,  in  which  we  were  most  nobly 
supported  by  Captain  Troubridge  of  the  Cullo- 
den.  The  Spanish  Admiral  desisted  from  his 
attempt  of  joining  his  other  division,  and  hauled 
to  the  wind  on  the  larboard  tack.  About  two 
P.  M  the  Culloden  having  got  between  us  and 
the  enemy  we  ceased  firing  about  ten  minutes, 
till  we  got  ahead  of  her  and  became  engaged  as 
before.  Employed  the  interval  in  replenishing 
our  shot,  and  repairing  our  rigging.  About 
half  past  two,  our  sails  and  rigging  being  almost 
cut  to  pieces,  the  Blenheim  passed  between  us 
and  the  enemy:  employed  as  before  while  our 
lire  ceased.  At  three  we  came  to  engage  seve- 
ral of  the  enemy's  line,  particularly  the  San  Josef 
and  San  Nicholas;  saw  a  Spanish  two-decker 
strike  to  the  Excellent,  soon  after  we  shot  away 
the  mizen  mast  of  the  San  Josef,  which  caused 
her  to  fall  on  board  the  San  Nicholas  to  wind- 
ward. At  half  past  three  the  Excellent  passed 
us  to  windward,  en^uo-insr  the  San  Josef  within 

*  O      O         O 

pistol  shot  as  she  passed  by;  on  which  she  and 
the  San  Nicholas  fell  on  board  of  each  other. 
The  San  Josef  having  lost  her  mizen  mast,  the 
Captain,  whose  fore  top-mast  was  at  this  time 


385 

$hot  away,  immediately  luffed  alongside;  pre- 
pared for  boarding,  and  having  engaged  very 
sharply  for  a  few  minutes,  in  which  we  had  fifteen 
men  killed  and  wounded,  the  Commodore  or- 
dered the  ship  to  be  laid  on  board,  when  himself, 
*  Captain  Berry,  Noble,  and  Piefson,  and  Messrs; 
Samwell,  Withers,  and  Williams,  Midshipmen,  at 
the  head  of  the  boarders  and  troops  entered  oil 
board  the  San  Nicholas  on  the  starboard  quarter^ 
and  from  her  boarded  the  San  Josef  and  hauled 
down  the  colours  at  five  minutes  before  four 
o'clock:  the  latter  mounting  112  guns,  Rear 
Admiral  Winthuysen,  and  the  former  84  guns, 
Commodore  Gerald ino;  they  were  both  mortally 
wounded  and  died  soon  after  the  action  ceased* 
Commodore  Nelson  put  Captain  Berry  in  charge 
of  the  San  Josef  and  Lieutenant  Spicer  of  the 
San  Nicholas,  with  150  men  in  each  ship:  found 
the  latter  on  fire,  but  extinguished  it.  At  five, 
all  firing  ceased.  While  we  were  entangled  with 
both  ships,  found  the  San  Nicholas  to  be  on  fire 
again  in  the  fore  hold;  but  it  was  happily  extin- 
guished by  our  firemen.  The  Commodore  after- 
wards went  on  board  the  Irresistible." 

A  more  circumstantial  and  animated  account  of 
this  memorable  enterprise  of  Nelson,  was  drawn 
up  by  himself  and  transmitted  to  his  friend  the 
Duke  of  Clarence  with  a  short  note ,  in  which 

P  Recently  promoted ;  but  Still  serving  with  the  Commodore  at 
a  Volunteer. 

2  C 


386 

the  Commodore  said,  "The  praises  and  honour* 
of  my  Admiral  tell  me  I  may  relate  my  tale:  I 
therefore  send  your  Royal  Highness, 

A  few  Remarks  relative  to  myself  in  ike  Captain, 
in  which  my  Pendant  was  flying  on  the  most  glorious 
Valentine's  Day. 

"  At  one  P.'  M.  the  Captain  having  passed  the 
sternmost  of  the  enemy's  ships   which  formed 
their  van  and  part  of  their  centre  consisting  of 
seventeen  sail  of  the  line,  they  on  the  larboard, 
we  on  the  starboard  tack;  the  Admiral  made  the 
signal  to  tack  in  succession:  but  perceiving  the 
Spanish   Fleet  to  bear   up   before   the  wind  or 
nearly  so,  evidently  with  an  intention  of  forming 
their  line  going  large,  and  joining  their  sepa- 
rated division  at  that  time  engaged  with  some  of 
our  centre  ships,  or  flying  from  us;  to  prevent 
either  of  their  schemes  from  taking  effect  I  or- 
dered the  ship  to  be  wore,  and  passing  between 
the  Diadem,  Captain  G.  W.  Towry,  and  Excel- 
lent, Captain  C.  Collingvvood,   at  a  quarter  past 
one  o'clock,  was  in  close  action  with  the  head- 
most and  of  course  leewardmost  of  the  Spanish 
division.      The  ships  which  I   knew,   were  the 
Santissima  Trinidad  136,  San  Josef  112,  Salvador 
del  Mundo  1 12,  San  Nicholas  80,  San  Isidro  74, 
with   another    first   rate   and    a   74    names   not 
known.      I   was   immediately  joined  and    most 
nobly  supported  by  the  Culloden,  Captain  Trou- 
bridge.     The  Spanish   Fleet  from  not  wishing,  I 
suppose,  to  have  a  decisive  battle,  hauled  to  the 


Wind  on  the  larboard  tack,  which  brought  the 
ships  abovementioned  to  be  the  leewardmost  in 
their  Fleet.  For  near  an  hour,'  I  believe,  but 
do  not  pretend  to  be  correct  as  to  time,  did  the 
Culloden  and  Captain  support  this  apparently^ 
but  not  really,  unequal  contest;  when  the  Blen- 
heim, Captain  T.  L.  Frederick,  passing  between, 
us  and  the  enemy,  gave  us  a;  respite  and  s-ickened 
the  Dons:  At  this  time  the  Salvador  del  Mundo 
and  San  Isidro  dropped  astern,  and  were  fired 
into  in  a  masterly  style  by  the  Excellent  who 
compelled  the  San  Isidro  to  hoist  English  colours, 
and  I  thought  the  large  ship  Salvador  del  Mundo 
had  also  struck:  but  Captain  Collingwood  dis- 
daining the  parade  of  taking  possession  of  beaten 
enemies,  most  gallantly  pushed  up  with  every 
sail  set  to  save  his  old  friend  and  messmate,  who 
was  to  appearance  in  a  critical  situation;  the 
Captain  at  this  time  being  actually  fired  upon 
by  three  first  rates  and  the  San  Nicholas  and  a 
seventy-four,  within  about  pistol  shot  distance 
of  the  San  Nicholas.  The  Blenheim  being  ahead 
and  the  Culloden  crippled  and  astern,  the  Ex- 
cellent ranged  up,  and  hauling  up  her  mainsail 
just  astern,  passed  within  ten  feet  of  the  San 
Nicholas,  giving  her  a  most  awful  and  tremendous 
fire.  The  San  Nicholas  luffing  up  the  San  Josef 
fell  on  board  her,  and  the  Excellent  passing  on 
for  the  Santissima  Trinidad,  the  Captain  resumed 
her  station  abreast  of  them  and  close  alongside. 
At  this  time  the  Captain  having  lost  her  fore  top 

2  c  2 


388 

mast,  not  a  sail,  shroud,  or  rope  left,  her  wheel 
shot  away,  and  incapable  of  further  service  in 
the  line,  or  in  chace,  I  directed  Captain  Miller 
to  put  the  helm  a  starboard,  and  calling  for  the 
Boarders  ordered  them  to  board. 

"The  soldiers  of  the  69th  regiment  with  an 
alacrity  which  will  ever  do  them  credit,  and 
Lieutenant  Pierson  of  the  same  regiment,  were 
amongst  the  foremost  on  this  service.  The  first 
man  who  jumped  into  the  enemy's  mizen  chains, 
was  Captain  Berry,  late  my  first  Lieutenant; 
(Captain  Miller  was  in  the  very  act  of  going  also, 
but  I  directed  him  to  remain;)  he  was  supported 
from  our  spritsail  yard  which  hooked  in  the  San 
Nicholas's  mizen  rigging.  A  soldier  of  the  69th 
regiment  having  broken  the  upper  quarter  gallery 
window,  jumped  in,  followed  by  myself  and  others 
as  fast  as  possible.  I  found  the  cabin  doors  fast- 
ened, and  the  Spanish  officers  fired  their  pistols 
at  us  through  the  windows;  but  having  burst 
open  the  doors,  the  soldiers  fired,  and  the  Spanish 
Brigadier  (Commodore  with  a  distinguishing  pen- 
dant) fell  as  retreating  to  the  quarter  deck  on 
the  larboard  side  near  the  wheel.  Having  pushed 
on  to  the  quarter  deck,  I  found  Captain  Berry  in 
possession  of  the  poop,  and  the  Spanish  Ensign 
hauling  down.  I  passed  with  my  people  and 
Lieutenant  Pierson  on  the  larboard  gangway  to 
the  forecastle,  where  I  met  two  or  three  Spanish 
officers,  prisoners  to  my  seamen,  and  they  deli- 
vered me  their  swords:  at  this  moment  a  fire  of 


389 

pistols,  or  musquets,  opening  from  the  Admiral's 
•stern  gallery  in  the  San  Josef,  I  directed  the 
soldiers  to  fire  into  her  stern.  Our  seamen  by 
this  time  were  in  full  possession  of  every  part  of 
the  ship;  about  seven  of  my  men  were  killed 
and  some  fefr  wounded,  and  about  twenty  Spa- 
niards. Having  placed  centinels  at  the  different 
ladders,  and  calling  to  Captain  Miller  ordering 
him  to  send  more  men  into  the  San  Nicholas,  1 
directed  my  brave  fellows  to  board  the  first  rate, 
the  San  Josef,  which  was  done  in  an  instant, 
Captain  Berry  assisting  me  into  the  main  chains. 
At  this  moment  a  Spanish  Officer  looked  over 
the  quarter-deck  rail  and  said  they  surrendered; 
from  this  most  welcome  intelligence  it  was  not 
long  before  I  was  on  the  quarter  deck,  when  the 
Spanish  Captain  with  a  bended  knee  presented 
me  his  sword,  and  told  me  the  Admiral  was  dying 
of  his  wounds  below.  I  asked  him  on  his  honour, 
if  the  ship  were  surrendered?  he  declared  she 
was;  on  which  I  gave  him  my  hand,  and  desired 
him  to  call  to  his  officers  and  ship's  company  and 
tell  them  of  it,  which  he  did;  and  on  the  quar- 
ter deck  of  a  Spanish  first  rate,  extravagant  as 
the  story  may  seem,  did  I  receive*1  the  swords 
of  vanquished  Spaniards;  which  as  I  received  I 
gave  to  William  Fearney,  one  of  my  bargemen, 
who  put  them  with  the  greatest  sangfroid  under 

qThe  Commodore  had  originally  written,  "with  William 
Fearney  one  of  my  bargemen  as  my  aide  de  camp,"  but  he  after- 
Wards  drew  his  pen  across  it. 


390 

his  arm.     One  of  my  sailors  now  took  me  by  the 
hand,  saying,  He  might  not  soon  have  such  another 
place  to  do  it  in,   and  assuring  me  he  was  most 
heartily  glad  to  see  me  there.    I  was  surrounded 
by  Captain  Berry,  Lieutenant  Pierson  69th  regi- 
ment, John  Sykes,  John  Thompson,  Francis  Cook, 
and  William  Fearney,  all  old  Agamemnons,  and 
several  other  brave  men,   seamen  and  soldiers: 
thus  fell  their  ships.    The  Victory  passing  saluted 
us  with  three  cheers,  as  did  every  ship  in  the 
Fleet.     The  Minerver  being  sent  by  the  Admiral 
to  my  assistance,  I  went  on  board  her  and  di- 
rected Captain  Cockburn  to  hoist  my  pendant 
and  carry  me  to  the  van,  and  place  me  on  board 
any  of  the  line  of  battle  ships  then   engaged; 
however,  before  this  could  be  effected,  the  sig- 
nal  being    made   to  wear  and   discontinue  the 
action,  I  went  with  Captain  Cockburn  on  board 
the  Victory,  when  the  Admiral  received  me  on 
the  quarter-deck,  and  having  embraced  me,  said 
he  could  not  sufficiently  thank  me,    and   used 
every   kind    expression,    which   could   not    fail 
to  make  me  happy.     From  the  Victory  1  went 
to  the  Irresistible,   74,   Captain  G.  Martin,  who 
was  ordered  to  hoist  my  pendant  as  my  own  ship 
was  completely  disabled,  and  she  was  then  taken 
in  tow  by  the  Minerve.     My  bruises  were  now 
looked  at,  and  found  but  trifling,  and  a  few  days 
made  me  as  well  as  ever." 
The  ship's  Log-book  thus  continues  the  official 

T  Some  additions  have  been  made  from  the  original  found 
among  the  Nelson  papers. 


391 

account  of  the  proceedings  of  the  Captai-n,  after 
Nelson  had  gone  on  board  the"1  Irresistible :  "At 
six  got  clear  of  the  prizes.  Wore  to  join  the 
fleet,  having  been  between  them  and  the  enemy, 
who  stood  towards  us  with  a  fresh  breeze  but 
hauled  their  wind  again.  Employed  cutting 
away  the  remnant  of  the  foresail  and  clearing 
the  wreck  of  the  fore  top  mast.  At  seven  the 
Minerve  took  us  in  tow;  our  standing  and  run- 
ning rigging  with  all  the  bending  sails  being  cut 
to  pieces,  our  wheel,  fore  top  mast  and  fore  top 
shot  away,  and  our  masts  severely  wounded,  the 
main  mast  having  three  shot  through  the  heart. 
Employed  filling  powder  and  replenishing  shot, 
knotting  and  splicing,  and  to  get  ready  for  battle 
again  as  soon  as  possible.  Found  that  another 
ship  of  112  guns,  the  San  Salvador  del  Mundo, 
and  the  San  Isidro,  74  guns,  had  struck  to  our 
fleet.  Our  frigates  took  them  in  tow.  Found 
we  had  twenty-four  men  killed  and  fifty-six 
wounded.  In  the  Spanish  prizes  we  took,  the 
slaughter  must  have  been  very  great,  as  there 
were  people  employed  all  night  throwing  the 
dead  overboard." 

The  result  of  this  memorable  day  is  well  known, 
and  has  been  often  faithfully  narrated.  On  board 
the  ^Captain,  Major  William  Norn's  of,  the  ma- 
rines and  Mr.  James  Goodeuch,  a  midshipman, 
were  killed/  with  twenty  two  of  the  ship's  com- 

*  See  Appendix  for  the  list  of  ships  composing  the  British  and 
Spanish  fleets,  with  an  account  of  the  killed  and  wounded. 


392 

jpany :  and  two  officers  with  fifty-four  of  the  crc\r 
were  wounded.  The  loss  of  the  whole  Squadron 
in  killed  and  wounded,  amounted  to  three  hun- 
dred. The  Captain,  according  to  Colonel  Drink- 
water,  fired  more  shot  than  is  usually  given  to 
a  ship  of  her  rate  at  her  first  equipment;  and 
it  was  observed,  that  when  shot  or  grape  were 
wanting  on  board  this  ship  for  the  carronades, 
the  seamen  substituted  in  their  place,  some  nine- 
pounders,  seven  of  which  were  frequently  dis- 
charged at  one  time,  and  at  so  short  a  distance, 
that  every  shot  must  have  done  execution :  the 
Captain  expended  146  barrels  of  powder,  the 
Culloden  170,  the  Blenheim  180,  and  the  other 
ships  in  the  same  proportion.  If  it  had  not  been 
for  the  approach  of  night,  the  Santissima  Trini- 
dad, which  carried  the  Spanish  Admiral's  flag, 
would  certainly  have  been  taken,  as  she  was 
reduced  to  a  perfect  wreck:  Colonel  Drinkwater 
gives  it  as  his  opinion,  that  the  close  of  the  day 
before  the  four  prizes  were  secured,  undoubtedly 
saved  the  Spanish  Admiral's  flag,  from  falling 
into  our  hands.  The  judicious  termination  of 
this  glorious  Action  displayed  that  vigilant  and 
collected  mind  so  conspicious  in  the  character 
of  Sir  John  Jervis,  which  was  equally  unimpaired 
by  the  anxiety  that  preceded  the  battle,  or  the 
success  that  followed  it:  For  had  the  signal  to 
bring  to  been  delayed  even  five  minutes  longer, 
his  prizes  would  have  been  placed  in  a  very  dan- 
gerous situation,  and  possibly  might  have  re- 


393 

verted  into  the  hands  of  the  enemy.  From  the 
situation  of  both  fleets,  our  ships  could  not  have 
formed  without  abandoning  the  prizes  and  run- 
ning to  leeward,  the  enemy  having  at  that  time 
at  least  eighteen  or  nineteen  ships  which  had 
suffered  little  or  no  injury,  whilst  the  Captain 
was  lying  a  perfect  wreck  on  board  the  Sail 
Nicholas  and  San  Josef,  and  many  of  our  other 
ships  were  so  shattered  in  their  masts  and  rigging 
as  to  be  wholly  ungovernable.t  The  Salvador 
del  Mundo,  112,  the  San  Josef,  112,  the  San 
Nicholas,  84,  and  the  San  Isidro,  74  guns,  ac- 
companied our  fleet  to  Lagos  bay. 

(1797.)  On  the  16th  of  February,  Sir  John 
Jervis  whilst  in  Lagos  bay  issued  his  general 
thanks  to  the  Officers  of  his  Squadron,  declaring, 
''That  no  language  he  was  possessed  of  could 
convey  the  high  sense  which  he  entertained  of 
their  exemplary  conduct,  and  that  the  late  signal 
victory  was  entirely  to  be  attributed  to  their 
determined  valour  and  discipline."  On  the  same 
day  he  also  sent  the  following  private  letter  with 
Jiis  official  despatch,  to  Lord  Spencer.  "  My 
J^ord :  The  correct  conduct  of  every  officer  and 
man  in  the  Squadron  on  the  ]4th  instant,  made 
it  improper  to  distinguish  one  more  than  another 
in  my  public  letter,  because  I  am  confident  that 
Jiad  those  who  were  least  in  action  been  in  the 
situation  of  the  fortunate  few,  their  behaviour 

*  Na*al  Chronicle,  Vol  IV.  page  37. 


394 

would  not  have  been  less  meritorious.  Yet  to 
your  Lordship  it  becomes  me  to  state,  that  Cap- 
tain Troubridge  in  the  Culloden  le$  the  Squa- 
dron through  the  enemy  in  a  masterly  style,  and 
tacked  the  instant  the  signal  flew;  and  was  gal- 
lantly supported  by  the  Blenheim,  Prince  George, 
Orion,  Irresistible,  and  Colossus.  The  latter 
had  her  fore  and  fore  top-sail  yards  wounded, 
and  they  unfortunately  broke  in  the  slings  in 
stays,  which  threw  her  out  and  impeded  the 
tackjng  of  the  Victory.  Commodore  Nelson, 
who  was  in  the  rear  on  the  starboard  tack,  took 
the  lead  on  the  larboard,  and  contributed  very 
much  to  the  fortune  of  the  day,  as  did  Captain 
Coll  ing  wood;  and,  in  the  close,  the  San  Josef 
and  San  Nicholas  having  fallen  foul  of  each  other, 
the  Captain  laid  them  on  board,  and  Captain 
Berry,  who  served  as  a  volunteer,  entered  at  the 
head  of  the  boarders,  and  Commodore  Nelson 
followed  immediately  and  took  possession  of 
them  both." 

(1797.)  Commodore  Nelson  to  Mr.  IVindhttm, 
member  for  Noncich,  dated  Irresistible,  off  Lisbon, 
February  26. — "Sir:  Particular  circumstances 
having  put  the  Spanish  Rear  Admiral's  sword, 
Don  Xavier  Francisco  Winthuysen,  into  my 
hands  on  the  most  glorious  14th  of  February, 
and  Admiral  Sir  John  Jervis  having  done  me  the 
honour  of  insisting  on  my  keeping  possession  of 
it,  I  know  no  place  where  it  would  give  me  or 
my  family  more  pleasure  to  have  it  kept,  than 


395    • 

in  the  capital  city  of  the  county  in  which  I  had 
the  honour  to  he  born.  If  therefore  you  think, 
Sir,  that  the  Mayor  and  Corporation  of  Norwich 
would  wish  to  accept  such  a  present,  I  have  to 
request  that  you  as  a  Representative  of  Norwich 
would  send  my  letter  and  the  box  containing  the 
sword  to  the  Mayor."- — This  valuable  relic  was 
received  by  the  Mayor  and  Corporation  with 
every  respect,  and  is  placed  in  the  council  cham- 
ber of  their  Guildhall  with  an  inscription  and 
various  ornamental  devices. 

( 1 797- )  Commodore  Nelson  to  Mrs.  Nelson,  dated 
Irresistible,  Lisbon,  Feb.  28. — "We  got  up  here 
with  our  prizes  this  afternoon;  the  more  I  think 
of  our  late  Action  the  more  I  am  astonished;  it 
absolutely  appears  a  dream.  The  Santissima 
Trinidad  of  four  decks,  lost  500  killed  and 
wounded;  had  not  my  ship  been  so  cut  up,  I 
would  have  had  her;  but  it  is  well,  thank  God 
for  it.  As  to  myself  I  assure  you  I  never  was 
better,  and  rich  in  the  praises  of  every  man, 
from  the  highest  to  the  lowest  in  the  fleet.  The 
Spanish  war  will  give  us  a  cottage  and  a  piece  of 
ground,  which  is  all  I  want.  I  shall  come  one 
day  or  other  laughing  back,  when  we  will  retire 
from  the  busy  scenes  of  life:  1  do  not  however 
mean  ,to  be  a  hermit,  the  Dons  will  give  us  a 
little  money.  If  my  Father  should  at  any  time 
wish  for  any  part  that  is  in  my  agent's  hands,  I 
beg  he  would  always  take  it;  for  that  would  give 
me  more  real  pleasure  than  buying  house  or  land. 


396 

I  go  to  sea  the  clay  after  to-morrow  in  this  ship 
with  a  Squadron  to  be  off  Cadiz,  consisting  of 
the  Irresistible,  Orion,  &c.  Sir  John  Jervis  has 
already  spread  the  frigates;  and  I  shall  return 
by  the  time  his  fleet  is  ready  for  sea." 

The  manner  in  which  Nelson  was  thus  uni- 
formly selected  by  his  Admiral  to  command  a 
detached  Squadron  was  peculiarly  gratifying, 
and  heightened  that  reciprocal  confidence  and 
friendship  between  them,,  which  rendered  such 
important  service  to  the  general  cause.  On 
leaving  the  Tagus  with  this  Squadron  to  watch 
the  motions  of  the  enemy,  the  Commodore  had 
also  in  vi  :w  to  intercept  a  rich  Spanish  ship, 
;which  was  to  convey  the  Viceroy  of  Mexico  and 
his  treasures  to  Old  Spain. — On  the  12th  of 
March,  he  spoke  a  vessel  from  Gibraltar,  which 
informed  him  that  the  Spanish  officers  and  sea- 
men had  been  pelted  and  hooted  by  the  mob  at 
Cadiz. 

(1797-)  The  Commodore  in  a  letter,  to  Mr. 
M 'Arthur,  March  16,  has  preserved  a  little  of 
what  was  also  said  at  Cadiz,  after  the  defeat  of 
their  fleet:  the  flame  of  patriotism  had  not  then 
awakened  the  national  valour  and  ancient  cha- 
racter of  Spain:  "Their  first  report  was,  That 
the  action  happening  on  a  foggy  day,  when  the 
fog  cleared  up  they  only  saw  fifteen  sail  of  the 
British  line,  and  therefore  concluded  that  at 
least  five  Mrere  sunk.  My  usual  good  fortune 
attended  me,  M'hich  I  know  will  give  you 


397 

amongst  my  other  friends  satisfaction:  I  only- 
got  on  board  the  Captain  at  seven  o'clock  in  the 
evening  of  the  13th.  I  am  now  off  Lagos  bay 
with  three  sail  of  the  line  looking  for  the  Vice- 
roy of  Mexico,  who  has  two  first  rates  and  a  74 
with  him,  but  the  larger  the  ship  the  better  the 
mark." 

(1797.)  Sir  J.  Jervis,  K.  B.  to  Commodore  Nel- 
son, dated  Victory,  Tagus,  March  21. — Sir:  In 
obedience  to  the  commands  of  the  Lords  Com- 
missioners of  the  Admiralty,  by  far  the  pleasantest 
I  ever  received,  I  have  the  honour  to  convey  to 
you  personally  His  Majesty's  most  gracious  ap- 
probation of  your  distinguished  services  in  the 
Action  with  the  fleet  of  Spain  on  the  14th  of 
February,  signified  through  Earl  Spencer  to  the 
Lords  Commissioners  of  the  Admiralty." — Sir 
John  Jervis  also  transmitted  the  thanks  of  both 
Houses  of  Parliament,  and  of  the  Corporation  of 
London. 

(1797.)  In  some  previous  letters  to  Sir  John 
Jervis,  Commodore  Nelson  had  alluded  to  the 
expectation  of  a  promotion  of  Flag  Officers, 
which  had  long  prevailed  in  the  Mediterranean. 
This  event  had  taken  place  at  home,  on  the  20th 
of  February,  six  days  after  the  late  glorious 
action  with  the  Spaniards,  when  the  Commodore 
had  been  advanced  to  the  rank  of  Rear  Admiral* 
As  no  account  however  of  this  promotion  reached 
Sir  John  Jervis  until  the  end  of  March,  the 
title  of  Commodore  has  been  retained  whilst  his 


398  , 

broad  pendant  continued  flying;  on  the  striking 
of  which,  the  second  period  of  the  life  of  this 
illustrious  Naval  Officer  is  concluded.  What  a 
career  of  glory  and  of  perilous  service  has  been, 
pursued,  since  he  left  the  humble  parsonage  of 
Burnham  Thorpe  in  the  year  1793;  and  hitherto 
without  any  of  those  attendant  shades,  which  so 
often  appear  in  the  conduct  of  men  of  extraor- 
dinary genius  and  zealous  dispositions.  An  high 
sense  of  the  principles  of  Revealed  Religion,  a 
love  for  his  venerable  father  and  the  chosen 
partner  of  his  life,  and  an  unwearied  regard  for 
the  honour  of  his  King  and  Country,  are  visible 
throughout  the  whole  period.  The  following 
letters  which  about  this  time  were  addressed  to 
him  by  his  early  friend  and  second  mother  Lady 
Parker,  and  by  his  Father,  may  give  an  addi- 
tional interest  to  the  close  of  this  second  book 
of  his  life,  and  connect  it  with  the  important  and 
brilliant  career  that  succeeds. 
'  ( 1 79  7- )  From  Lady  Parker, u  '  dated  Portsmouth, 
March  15. — "  My  dear  Nelson:  I  cannot  let  Sir 
Robert  Calcler  sail  from  hence  without  writing 
you  a  few  lines.  There  are  no  expressions  in 
the  English  language  that  I  am  acquainted  with, 
equal  to  convey  the  idea  \vhich  I  have  of  your 
gallant  and  meritorious  exertions  in  your  Coun- 
try's cause  upon  all  occasions.  Your  conduct 
on  the  memorable  14th  of  February,  a  proud 

•  From  the  Nelson  Papers. 


399 

day  for  Old  England,  is  above  all  praise;  it  never 
was,  nor  never  can  be  equalled.  All  that  I  shall 
,say  is,  that  your  Mother  could  not  have  heard 
of  your  deeds  with  more  affection,  nor  could  she 
be  more  rejoiced  at  your  personal  escape  from 
all  the  dangers  to  which  you  were  exposed  on 
that  glorious  day.  Long  may  you  live  my  dear 
Nelson,  an  ornament  to  your  Country  and  your 
profession,  is  the  sincere  wish  of  your  old  Com- 
mander Sir  Peter  and  myself,  and  every  branch 
of  our  family.  Pray  offer  my  most  affectionate 
regards  to  your  truly  able  and  gallant  Comman- 
der in  chief;  he  shall  henceforth  be  my  Valen- 
tine. I  must  request  you  also  to  remember  me 
to  dear  good  Collingwood  in  the  kindest  manner, 
I  am  very  happy  at  the  glory  he  has  gained: 
remember  me  also  to  George  Martin,  and  the 
whole  of  the  Invincible  Fifteen  that  I  have  the 
honour  of  knowing.  God  bless  you,  my  dear 
^Nelson,  your  affectionate  and  sincere  friend, 
jMargaret  Parker." 

From  the  Rev.  Edmund  Nelson. 
"  My  dear  Rear  Admiral:  I  thank  my  God 
with  all  the  power  of  a  grateful  soul  for  the  mer- 
cies he  has  most  graciously  bestowed  on  me,  in 
preserving  you  amidst  the  imminent  perils  which 
so  lately  threatened  your  life  at  every  moment; 
and  amongst  other  innumerable  blessings  I  must 
not  forget  the  bounty  of  Heaven,  in  granting 
you  a  mind  that  rejoices  in  the  practice  of  those 
eminent  virtues  which  form  great  and  good  cha- 


400 

racters.  The  height  of  glory  to  which  your 
professional  judgment,  united  with  a  proper  de- 
gree of  bravery  guarded  by  Providence,  has 
raised  you,  few  Sons,  my  dear  child,  attain  to, 
and  fewer  Fathers  live  to  see.  Tears  of  joy 
have  involuntarily  trickled  down  my  furrowed 
cheek.  Who  could  stand  the  force  of  such  ge- 
neral congratulation?  The  name  and  services  of 
Nelson  have  sounded  throughout  the  city  of 
Bath,*  from  the  common  ballad  singer  to  the 
public  theatre.  Joy  sparkles  in  every  eye,  and 
desponding  Britain  draws  back  her  sable  veil 
and  smiles.  It  gives  me  inward  satisfaction  to 
know,  that  the  laurels  you  have  wreathed  sprung 
from  those  principles  and  religious  truths  which 
alone  constitute  the  Hero,  and  though  a  Civic 
Crown  is  all  you  at  present  reap,  it  is  to  the  mind 
of  inestimable  value,  and  I  have  no  doubt  will  one 
day  bear  a  Golden  Apple.  Edmund  Nelson." 

*  The  honourary  Freedom  of  the  City  was  voted  to  him  March 
20,  1797,  as  a  testimony  of  its  high  esteem  for  his  brave  conduct 
under  Admiral  Sir  John  Jervis,  in  the  late  gallant  action  with 
the  Spanish  Fleet. 


END    OF    THE    SECOND    BOOK. 


401 


BOOK  THE  THIRD. 

From  1797  to  1805. 

I.  SUCH  was  the  Character  and  such  had  been 
the  professional  Services  of  Horatio  Nelson,  when 
he  succeeded  in  his  39th  year  to  the  rank  of 
Rear  Admiral.  His  great  abilities  and  approved 
integrity  were  known  and  acknowledged  through- 
out all  Europe,  and  had  been  extolled  in  the  inost 
liberal  manner  even  by  those  enemies  who  had 
severely  felt  their  ascendancy.  As  a  Comman- 
der, he  not  only  possessed  the  most  Unshaken 
valour  and  inexhaustible  spirit  of  enterprise,  but 
he  also  enjoyed  the  happy  and  rare  talent  of  in- 
spiring his  followers  with  an  unbounded  con- 
fidence of  success  in  whatever  he  undertook. 
The  various  and  wonderful  resources  of  his  mind 
provided  a  remedy  for  every  contingency.  Pa- 
tient of  toil  and  hardship,  but  not  of  inaction, 
covetous  of  honour,  but  not  of  gold,  he  anxiously 
sought  for  situations  of  peril  and  exertion,  where 
he  might  surpass  the  rest  of  his  profession  in 
supporting  the  dignity  of  his  King,  and  the  in- 
dependence of  his  Country;  The  extraordinary, 
and  as  it  were  intuitive  capacity  of  his  mind 
created  for  itself  opportunities' of  distinction  in 
the  most  forlorn  and  perplexing  situations* 

2  D 


402- 

The  departure  of  our  fleet  from  the  Mediter- 
ranean had  been  observed  with  exultation  by 
our  enemies,  as  it  enabled  them  in  greater  se- 
curity to  make  preparations  for  their  intended 
Expedition  from  Toulon.  The  victory  of  February 
the  14th  and  the  blockade  of  Cadiz  had  checked 
but  not  prevented  their  ambitious  designs.  As 
soon  as  Sir  John  Jervis  had  refitted  his  fleet  at 
,  Lisbon,  he  proceeded  to  reinforce  Nelson's  squa- 
dron in  the  blockade  of  Cadiz;  on  which  station 
the  latter  had  arrived  in  the  beginning  of  April. 
Previous  to  this  the  Captain  had  joined  the  Rear 
Admiral,  when  he  had  hoisted  his  flag  on  board 
his  old  sjiip,  still  commanded  by  Captain  Miller. 

The  various  and  important  services  which  he 
had  rendered  his  Country  did  not  fail  to  make 
that  impression  on  his  Sovereign,  which  the  too 
anxious  mind  of  Nelson  had  rather  hoped  for 
than  expected;  but  to  be  admitted  into  one  of 
the  noble  orders  of  Knighthood,  and  without 
solicitation,  was  a  mark  of  favour  peculiarly 
adapted  to  gratify  his  loyal  disposition,  and  an 
ambition  which  had  hitherto  been  often  mor- 
tified. Information  of  this  intended  honour  was 
» 

communicated  to  him  by  Lord  Spencer  in  the 
handsomest  manner,  on  the  17th  of  March. 
Ha  vino-  received   instructions  from   Sir  John 

O 

Jervis  to  render  the  blockade  of  Cadiz  as  strict 
as  possible,  the  Rear  Admiral  issued  his  orders 
accordingly  on  the  llth  of  April  to  the  respec- 
tive Captains  under  his  command;  and  also  in- 


403 

formed  the  American  and  Danish  Consuls  at 
Cadiz,  That  in  future  no  neutral  vessel  would  be 
permitted  to  enter  or  leave  that  port,  unless  by 
leave  obtained  from  the  Commander  in  Chief:  "I 
shall  endeavour,"  added  Nelson,  when  writing 
to  his  Admiral,  "by  fair  means  to  accomplish 
your  wishes  in  the  blockade.  I  have  myself  no 
idea  that  the  Spanish  fleet  will  be  ready  for  sea 
for  some  months;  and,  I  own,  Sir,  that  niy  feel- 
ings  are  alive  for  the  safety  of  our  army  from 
Elba.  If  the  French  get  out  two  sail  of  the-  line, 
which  I  am  confident  they  may  do,  our  troops 
are  lost,  and  what  a  triumph  would  that  be  to 
them  !  I  know  you  have  many  difficulties  to  con^ 
tend  with,  but  I  am  anxious  that  nothing-  should 
miscarry  under  your  orders.  If  you  think  a 
detachment  can  be  spared,  I  am  ready  to  go  and 
do  my  best  for  their  protection.  At  all  events 
I  trust  you  will  not  imagine  that  my  taking  the 
great  liberty  of  thus  mentioning  my  thoughts, 
arises  from  any  other  motive  than  affection  to^ 
wards  you." 

( 1797.)  Sir  John  Jen-is  to  Rear  Admiral  Nelson, 
dated  off  Cadiz,  April  12 — "Dear  Sir,  I  return  you 
very  many  thanks  for  your  friendly  hint  about 
the  garrison  of  Porto  Ferrajo  and  your  offer  to 
go  in  quest  of  it;  which  I  avail  myself  of  by 
sending  you  orders  to  proceed  with  the  Captain, 
Colossus,  and  Leander  to  Gibraltar,  and  after 
they  are  completed  in  their  water  and  provisions, 
to  make  the  best  of  your  way  up  the  Mediter- 
1  D  2 


404 

raneaii.  I  have  reason  to  think  the  garrison  is 
on  its  passage  to  Gibraltar  under  the  charge  of 
Captain  Fremantle  in  the  Inconstant.  I  left 
him  to  his  own  judgment,  formed  on  the  intelli- 
gence he  might  be  possessed  of  at-  the  moment 
of  departure;  promising  nothing,  but  that  I 
would  protect  him  from  Jack  Spaniard  by  block- 
ing up  this  port.  The  Terpsichore  and  Dido  are 
going  off  Santa  Cruz  in  the  island  of  Teneriife, 
to  ascertain  whether  the  Viceroy  of  Mexico  be 
actually  there." 

The  daring  heroism  of  Nelson  on  the  14th  of 
February,  which  had  been  rewarded  by  the  mu- 
nificence of  his  Sovereign,  was  also  marked  by 
various  corporate,  bodies  as  claiming  their  thanks. 
In  addition  to  those  of  the  Irish  Parliament 
which  he  received  from  Sir  John  Jervis,  April  19; 
he  had  also  transmitted  to  him  the  resolutions  of 
the  city  of  Bristol,  and  of  the  Grand  Jury  of  the 
county  of  Stafford,  expressive  of  the  high  sense 
which  they  all  respectively  entertained  of  his 
bravery  and  gallant  conduct  on  that  day. 

In  the  mean  time  being  detached  from  the 
fleet  to  secure  the  safety  of  the  troops  under 
General  de  Burgh,  he  had  been  joined  off  Ca- 
brita,  on  the  day  after  he  left  Sir  J.  Jervis,  by 
the  Seahorse,  Caroline,  and  Southampton,  and 
on  the  15th  of  April  by  the  Meleager.  In  getting 
to  the  eastward  he  spoke  every  vessel  he  met 
\yith  to  obtain  information,  and  was  repeatedly 
told,  that  a  French  squadron,  of  four  sail  of  .the 


1    . 

405 

line,  a  frigate  and  a  brig,  was  off  die  southern 
end  of  Minorca.  The  Southampton  parted  com- 
pany in  chace;  on  the  18th  and  19th  of  April  he 
passed  Ivica,  and  Majorca,  and  within  gun-shot 
of  Port  Mahon  with  a  strong  wind  at  N.  W. 
"which  probably,"  added  he,  in  a  letter  to  his 
Commander  dated  April  21,  off  the  southern  end 
of  Corsica,  "  blew  the  French  ships  under  St. 
Peters  in  the  island  of  Sardinia:  this  morning 
with  inexpressible  pleasure  I  beheld  the  Convoy, 
which  I  shall  hope  to  see  safe  into  Gibraltar, 
and  I  dispatch  Gibson  to  tell  you  this  good  news. 
I  hope  you  will  press  General  O'Hara  about  Te- 
neriffe,  what  a  stroke  it  would  be!  All  is  lost  in 
Italy,  the  whole  state  of  Venice  is  actually 

French.     Trieste  is  said  to  be  also  in  their  pos- 

1 

session,  and  that  Buonaparte  is  within  150  miles 
of  Vienna  with  150,000  men.  The  Archduke 
Charles  is  fortifying  some  pass  to  make  a  stand; 
but  there  seems  no  prospect  of  stopping  these 
extraordinary  people." 

(1797.)  On  the  igth  of  May,  whilst  the  Rear 
Admiral  was  detained  in  Gibraltar  bay,  he  issued 
the  orders  he  had  received  from  Sir  John  Jervis, 
respecting  the  subsequent  destination  and  vic- 
tualling of  the  ships  under  Captain  Fremantle. 
On  the  20th,  having  received  a  request  from 
Mr.  Simpson,  the  American  consul,  to  protect 
twelve  American  vessels  which  were  lying  in  the 
bay  of  Malaga,  unable  to  proceed  on  account  of 
three  French  privateers  by  whom  the  Americans 


406 

were  closely  watched;  the  Admiral  returned  for 
answer,  "I  shall  immediately  grant  the  pro- 
tection you  have  requested,  by  sending  the 
Andromache,  Captain  Mansfield,  to -morrow  off 
Malaga,  who  will  protect  the  vessels  close  to  the 
coast  of  Barbary,  where  you  tell  me  they  will 
consider  themselves  safe.  In  thus  freely  grant- 
ing the  protection  of  the  British  flag  to  the 
subjects  of  the  United  States,  I  am  sure  of  ful- 
filling the  wishes  of  my  Sovereign,  and  I  hope  of 
strengthening  the  harmony  which  at  present  so 
happily  subsists  between  the  two  nations." — 
Having  joined  the  fleet  and  his-ship  the  Captain 
being  in  so  bad  a  state,  Nelson  shifted  his  flag 
towards  the  end  of  the  month  on  board  the 
Theseus,  Captain  Miller  still  accompanying  him; 
and  Captain  Aylmer  succeeded  to  the  Captain. 

On  the  50th  of  May,  the  Commander  in  Chief 
having  given  out  his  orders  respecting  the  firing 
of  twenty-one  guns,  and  three  feux  de  joie,  on 
the  ensuing  birth-day  of  the  King,  from  each  of 
the  ships  of  the  squadron,  Rear  Admiral  Nelson 
was  directed  on  sending  a  dispatch  to  the  Spa- 
nish. Admiral,  to  inform  D.  Josef  de  Mazarredo 
of  the  royal  salute  that  had  been  ordered :  upon 
which  Nelson  wrote  as  follows.  "I  embrace, 
Sir,  the  opportunity  of  assuring  you  of  my  high 
esteem  for  your  character.  The  4th  of  June 
being  the  birth-day  of  my  Royal  Master,  Sir 
John  Jervis  intends  firing  a  royal  salute  at  eight 
o'clock  in  the  evening,  instead  of  the  usual  time 


407 

/ 

at  one  o'  clock  in  the  afternoon;  and  has  desired 
me  to  mention  it  to  your  Excellency,  that  the 
ladies  at  Cadiz  may  not  he  alarmed.''  Don  Josef 
with  the  high  spirit  of  an  oid  Castilian,  replied, 
"  That  the  general  wish  of  the  Spanish  Nation  could 
not  but  accord  with  so  august  a  motive." 

In  writing  to  Mr.  M' Arthur,  June  1,  he  added, 
"We  are  off  Cadiz  M'ith  a  greater  inferiority 
than  before.  We  have  every  day  flags  of  truce, 
the  Dons  hope  for  peace,  but  must  soon  fight  us 
if  the  war  goes  on.  I  wish  it  was  all  over,  for 
I  cannot  fag  much  longer;  and,  to  please  our 
fleet,  I  hear  that  a  squadron  is  looking  out  in 
the  limits  of  this  station  for  the  galleons  daily 
expected:  what  a  special  mark  of  favour  to  us, 
who  are  enabling  them  to  cruise  so  much  at 
their  ease.  Believe  me,  dear  Sir,  your  obliged 
and  faithful  servant.  P.  S.  Sam.  Hood  is  gone 
I  hope  to  get  riches,  sure  to  get  honour." 

(1797.)  The  next  mark  of  confidence  which 
Nelson  received  from  his  Admiral  was  the  beina: 

^j 

appointed  to  command  the  in-shore  squadron  off 
Cadiz;  a  post  of  honour  well  adapted  to  so  vigi-' 
lant  and  daring  a  spirit.  It  was  his  constant 
custom  every  night,  when  the  boats  were  on 
their  stations  off  the  mouth  of  that  harbour,  to 
be  rowed  in  his  barge  through  the  whole  force, 
and,  with  his  wonted  attention,  to  inspect  every 
thing  that  was  going  on.  The  following  order 
from  Sir  John  Jervis,  June  .5,  relates  to  this 
perilous  service,  and  will  convey  some  idea  of 


408 

the  determined  manner  in  which  it  was  con- 
ducted. "The  Commander  in  Chief  thinks  it 
expedient,  from  intelligence  lately  received,  that 
the  launches  and  the  barges  of  the  two  divisions 
under  Vice  Admiral  Thompson  and  Rear  Admi- 
ral Parker,  should  assemble  on  board  the  Theseus 
between  nine  and  ten  o'clock  every  night,  armed 
with  carronades,  pikes,  cutlasses,  broad  axes  and 
chopping  knives,  a  clamp  in  each  boat,  with 
spikes,  a  sledge  hammer,  and  a  coil  of  small  rope 
to  tow  off  any  armed  brig,  mortar  or  gun  boat, 
that  is  carried,  and  follow  the  directions  of  Rear 
Admiral  Nelson  for  the  night:"  and  on  the  same 
day  another  order  was  issued,  that  the  launches 
and  barges  were  on  that  evening  to  be  alongside 
the  Theseus  by  half  past  seven  o'clock;  and 
these  were  supported  by  gun  boats  properly  fit- 
ted for  that  particular  service. 

(1797.)  After  the  action  of  February  14,  a 
letter  had  inadvertently  been  published  in  the 
English  papers,  injurious  to  the  professional 
character  of  one  of  the  Spanish  officers;  and  in 
consequence  of  this,  a  correspondence  ensued 
between  Admiral  Nelson  and  the  Spanish  Vice 
Admiral  Moreno,  which  commenced  with  the 
following  note,  dated  Theseus,  June  8.  ^  Sir, 
A  Spanish  officer  having  said,  that  you  had  ex- 
pressed a  wish  to  obtain  a  letter  supposed  to 
have  been  written  from  his  Majesty's  ship  Eg- 
mont,  and  inserted  in  an  English  newspaper, 
relating  to  the  action  of  Feb.  14;  every  inquiry 


409 

has  been  made  to  obtain  the  newspaper,  and 
hitherto  without  effect.  Captain  Sutton  of  the 
Egmont  has  also  done  every  thing  in  his  power, 
but  without  being  able  to  learn  whether  any 
letter  from  that  ship  has  been  published.  The 
inquiry  has  however  produced  from  my  Com- 
mander in  Chief,  Sir  John  Jervis,  the  most  hand- 
some testimony  of  the  gallant  conduct  of  a  three 
decked  ship,  bearing  the  flag  of  a  Vice  Admiral, 
who  did  every  thing  which  a  good  officer  could 
do  to  attempt  to  cut  through  the  British  line, 
between  the  Victory  and  the  Egmont." 

Nothing  could  equal  the  extreme  attention 
with  which  the  blockade  of  Cadiz  was  carried 
on  by  the  Commander  in  Chief,  and  the  intelli- 
gence M'hich  he  constantly  obtained  of  every 
transaction  that  passed  in  that  harbour.  On  the' 
9th  of  June,  in  writing  to  the  Marine  Minister 
at  Lisbon,  Sir  John  Jervis  said,  "The  French 
and  Spanish  privateers  are  preparing  to  elude 
the  vigilance  of  this  squadron,  by  taking  out 
their  masts  and  passing  under  the  arch  of  the 
bridge  at  Leon,  and  taking  them  in  again  when 
through,  with  an  intention  of  going  out  at  the 
entrance  of  San  Pedro;  some  Moorish  vessels 
with  corn  have  got  in  that  way.  I  have  there- 
fore ordered  the  Meleager  and  Raven  to  anchor 
in  front  of  that  channel." 

(1797.)  Rear  Admiral  Nelson  to  Sir  J.  Jervis, 
June  9. — "  My  dear  Sir,  The  newspaper  was  at 
last  found  in  the  night,  on  the  quarter  deck,  and 


is  gone  as  you  desired:  it  will  I  fear  militate 
against  Cordova,  if  any  weight  be  given  to  a 
newspaper  account.  Your  testimony  of  Moreno's 
conduct  will  no  doubt  be  of  service  to  him;  the 
trials  are  commenced,  and  every  day  an  account 
is  sent  off  to  Madrid.  The  heavy  charge  against 
Cordova  is  not  com  in  2:  into  Cadiz  with  his  con- 

O 

voy,  which  they  say  lie  could  have  done  the  day 
after  he  had  passed  the  straits.  Morales,  it  is 
expected,  will  be  shot,  Cordova  broke,  Moreno 
acquitted.  The  long  trial  of  the  officers  who 
gave  up  Figueras  is  just  finished,  and  five  are 
to  be  shot.  All  the  officers  who  composed  the 
council  of  war  are  to  be  degraded  in  their  public 
and  private  rank. 

(17.97.)  Admiral  Nelson,  when  writing  to  his 
wife,  on  the  15th  of  June,  mentioned  a  circum- 
stance that  must  have  been  particularly  grateful 
to  his  feelings.  Amidst  the  dreadful  commotion 
which  had  taken  place  in  our  Navy  during  that 
year,  the  Theseus,  before  she  left  England,  had 
been  disgraced  by  the  prevailing  madness;  and 
some  apprehensions  had  arisen  respecting  her 
men,  on  her  first  joining  Sir  John  Jervis.  For 
this  reason,  amongst  others,  Nelson  had  hoisted 
his  flag  on  board  her;  and  so  powerful  was  the 
influence  which  this  extraordinary  man  had  over 
the  crew,  even  in  their  then  state  of  irritation, 
that  it  not  only  brought  them  back  to  a  proper 
sense  of  their  duty,  but  actually  attached  the 
whole  ship's  company  to  him  as  if  they  had  been 


411 

old  Aganicmnons.  The  following  extract  from 
his  letter  will  more  clearly  exemplify  this.  "  A 
few  nights  ago  a  paper  was  dropped  on  the  quar- 
ter deck,  of  which  this  is  a  copy:  Success  attend 
Admiral  Nelson!  God  bless  Captain  Miller!  We 
thank  them  for  the  Officers  they  have  placed  over 
us.  JFe  are  happy  and  comfortable,  and  will  shed 
every  drop  of  blood  in  our  veins  to  support  them, 
and  the  name  of  the  Theseus  shall  be  immortalised 
as  high  ax  the  Captain's.  SHIP'S  COMPANY.'* 

(1757.)  Whilst  these  transactions  had  been 
going  on  off  Cadiz,  and  preparations  were  making 
for  the  bomhardment  of  the  town  and  for  an  ex- 
pedition against  Teneriffe,  the  gallantry  of  our 
seamen  had  been  conspicuously  displayed  under 
lieutenant  Hardy,  in  the  road  of  Santa  Cruz. 
On  the  28th  of  May,  Captain  IJallowell  in  the 
'Lively  and  Captain  Cockburn  in  la  Minerve, 
having  discovered  an  armed  brig  at  that  anchor- 
age, had  ordered  the  boats  of  the  two  frigates, 
under  lieutenant  T.  M.  Hardy  of  la  Minerve,  to 
proceed  into  the  bay  and  attempt  the  daring  en- 
terprise of  cutting  the  brig  out.  Accordingly 
in  the  afternoon  about  half  past  two  o'clock, 
lieutenant  Hardy  had  proceeded  on  this  service; 
and  being  gallantly  supported  by  his  brother 
officers  and  the  seamen,  he  had  boarded  the 
enemy  and  carried  her;  notwithstanding  a  steady 
fire  of  musquetry  from  the  brig  and  a  heavy 
discharge  of  artillery  and  small  arms  from  the 
town,  to  which  for  want  of  wind  they  were  a 


412 

long  time  exposed,  as  also  to  the  fire  of  a  large 
ship  lying  in  the  road.     The  prize  proved  to  be 
la  Mutine  French  corvette  of  twelve  six  poun- 
ders, two  thirty-six  pound  carronades,  and  130 
men,   commanded  by  citizen  Xavier  Paumier, 
then  on  shore.      The  officers   who  particularly 
distinguished  themselves  on  this  occasion  were 
lieutenants  Bland,  Hopkins,  Bush  by,  and  lieute- 
nant Bulkeley  of  the  Royal  Marines  belonging 
to  the  Lively;  and  lieutenants  Hardy,  Gage,  and 
Mailing,  of  la  Minerve:  four  men  were  wounded 
in  the  Lively 's  boats,  and  ten  in  those  of  la  Mi- 
nerve  with  lieutenant   Hardy,   who   was  imme- 
diately advanced   for  this   achievement  to   the 
rank  of  Commander,  and  appointed  to  la  Mutine. 
The  affectionate  tenderness  of  the  private  cha- 
racter of  Nelson,  cannot  be  too  generally  known 
and  admired:  In  writing  to  Mrs.  Nelson  June  29, 
as  was  his  custom  previous  to  his  entering  on 
any  service  of  peril,  he  had  said,  "  Rest  assured 
of  my  most  perfect  love,  affection  and  esteem 
for  your  person  and  character,    which  the  more 
I  sec  of  the  world  the  more  I  must  admire.    The 
imperious  call  of  honour  to  serve  my  Country, 
is  the  only  thing  which  keeps  me  a  moment  from 
you,  and  a  hope  that,  by  staying  a  little  longer, 
it  may  enable  you  to  enjoy  those  little  luxuries 
which  you  so  highly  merit.     I  pray  God  it  may 
soon  be  peace,   and  that  we  may  get  into  the 
Cottage. — I    have    to   thank  many  friends   for 
their  kind  congratulations,  and  have  had  a  long 


413 

letter  and  genealogy  from  the  York  Herald,  Mr. 
Nayler,  whom  I  have  referred  to  my  brother 
Maurice.  I  have  sent  my  brother  my  supporters, 
crest  and  motto;  on  one  side  a  Sailor  properly 
habited,  holding  in  his  hand  the  broad  pendant 
on  a  staff  and  trampling  on  a  Spanish  flag;  on 
the  other  side  the  British  lion  tearing  the  Spanish 
flag,  the  remnants  hanging  down  and  the  flag  in 
tatters.  Motto,  what  my  brother  William  sug- 
gested turned  into  English,  Faith  and  JVorks.  I 
hope  you  will  like  them. — I  intend  my  next 
winter's  gift  at  Burnham  should  be  fifty  good 
large  blankets  of  the  very  best  quality,  and  they 
will  last  for  seven  years  at  least.  This  will  not 
take  from  any  thing  the  parish  might  give.  I 
wish  inquiry  to  be  made,  and  the  blankets  or- 
dered of  some  worthy  man;  they  are  to  be  at 
my  father's  disposal  in  November.  I  have  re- 
ceived my  dear  father's  letter,  God  bless  him 
and  you." 

(1797.)  On  the  22d  of  June,  the  Duke  of 
Portland  had  sent  the  following  letter  from 
Whitehall  to  Sir  John  Jervis,  who  had  been 
created  a  Peer,  by  the  title  of  Earl  St.  Vincent. 
"My  Lord:  His  Majesty  having  been  graciously 
pleased  as  a  mark  of  his  royal  approbation  of 
the  eminent  services  of  Rear  Admiral  Nelson, 
to  nominate  him  to  be  one  of  the  Knights  Com- 
panions of  the  most  honourable  Order  of  the 
Bath;  and  it  being  necessary  that  he, should  be 
invested  with  the  ensigns  of  the_  said  Order, 


414 

which  are  transmitted  to  him  by  this  oppor- 
tunity, I  am  to  signify  to  your  Lordship  the 
•King's  pleasure  that  you  should  perform  that 
ceremony:  and  it  heing  his  Majesty's  intention 
that  the  same  should  he  done  in  the  most  honour- 
able r  and  distinguished  manner  that  circum- 
stances will  allow  of,  you  will  concert  and  adjust 
with  him  such  time  and  manner  for  investing 

o 

him  with  the  ensigns  of  the  Order  of  the  Bath, 
as  shall  appear  to  you  most  proper  for  shewing 
all  due  respect  to  the  King's  order;  and  as  may 
at  the  same  time  mark  in  the  most  public  man" 
ner  his  Majesty's  just  sense  of  the  zeal  and  abi- 
lities which  Rear  Admiral  Nelson  has  exerted 
in  the  service  of  his  King  and  Country." 

As  if  it  had  been  in  the  original  and  true  spirit 
of  Chivalry,  the  renowned  Sir  Horatio  Nelson 
was  destined  to  keep  the  vigils  of  his  Knight- 
hood during  the  perilous  night  of  the  third  of 
July,  at  the  mouth  of  Cadiz  harbour.  On  the 
evening  of  that  day  it  had  been  given  out  in 
orders  by  the  Commander  in  Chief,  That  all  the 
barges  and  launches  without  exception,  with 
their  carronades  properly  fitted,  and  plenty  of 
ammunition  and  pikes,  were  to  be  with  Admiral 
Nelson  at  half  past  eight  o'clock  on  a  particular 
service.  The  garrison  of  Cadiz  at  this  time 
consisted  of  from  4000  to  4500  men.  On  the 
line  wall  facing  the  bay,  seventy  pieces  of  caii- 

y  The  fees  on  this  occasion,  amounting  to  428/.  ?s.  5d.  were 
paid  by  Virtue  of  the  Kingi's  sign  manu::!. 


415 

non  and  eight  mortars  had  been  mounted,  and 
near  Alameda  were  four  other  mortars;  and  from 
the  Capuchins  at  the  back  of  the  town  to  the 
land  point  were  three  batteries  of  four  guns  each. 
Such  was  the  strength  of  the  forts  at  Cadiz  when 
Sir  Horatio  Nelson  undertook  its  bombardment, 
respecting  which,  he  thus  wrote  to  Earl  St.  Vin- 
cent on  the  1st  of  Juiy.  "  We  will  begin  this 
night  by  ten  o'clock;  and  I  beg  that  all  the 
launches  of  the  fleet  may  be  with  me  by  eight, 
or  half  past  at  farthest,  also  all  the  barges  or 
pinnaces.  I  wish  to  make  it  a  warm  night  at 
Cadiz.  The  town  and  their  fleet  are  prepared, 
and  their  gun-boats  are  advanced;  so  much  the 
better.  If  they  venture  from  their  walls,  I  shall 
give  Johnny  his  full  scope  for  fighting.  Mazar- 
redo  will  be  more  than  human,  if  he  can  keep 
the  merchants  of  Cadiz  in  good  humour.  I  am 
inclined  to  think  he  has  been  out  this  afternoon. 
I  intend  if  alive  and  not  tired  to  see  you  to- 
morrow, and  ever  to  the  last  believe  me  your 
faithful  Horatio  Nelson." 

The  subsequent  transactions  of  that  memorable 
night  were  detailed  by  him  in  the  following  offi-; 
cial  letter  to  Earl  St.  Vincent,  dated  Theseus, 
July  4.  "  In  obedience  to  your  orders,  the  Thun- 
der bomb  was  placed  by  the  good  management 
of  lieutenant  Gourly  her  present  commander, 
assisted  by  Mr.  Jackson  master  of  the  Ville  de 
Paris,  who  volunteered  his  able  services,  within 
2500  yards  of  the  walls  of  Cadiz;  and  the  shells 


416 

were  thrown  from  her  with  much  precision  under 
the  direction  of  lieutenant  Baynes  of  the  royal 
artillery;  but  unfortunately  it  was  soon  found 
that  the  large  mortar  had  heen  materially  injured 
by  its  former  services:  I  therefore  ordered  her 
to  return  under  the  protection  of  the  Goliath, 
Terpsichore  and  Fox,  who  were  kept  under  sail 
for  that  purpose,  and  for  whose  active  services 
I  feel  much  obliged.  The  Spaniards  having  sent 
out  a  great  number  of  mortar  gun-boats  and 
armed  launches,  I  directed  a  vigorous  attack  to 
be  made  on  them;  which  was  done  with  such 
gallantry,  that  they  were  driven  and  pursued 
close  to  the  walls  of  Cadiz,  and  must  have  suffer- 
ed considerable  loss;  and  I  have  the  pleasure  to 
inform  you,  that  two  mortar-boats  and  an  armed 
launch  remained  in  our  possession. 

"Ife.el  myself  particularly  indebted  for  the 
successful  termination  of  this  contest  to  the  gal- 
lantry of  Captains  Fremantle  and  Miller,  the 
former  of  whom  accompanied  me  in  my  barge, 
and  to  my  coxswain  John  Sykes,  who  in  defend- 
ing my  person  was  most  severely  wounded,  as 
was  Captain  Fremantle  slightly  in  the  attack; 
and  my  praises  are  generally  due  to  every  officer 
and  man,  some  of  whom  I  saw  behave  in  the 
most  noble  manner,  and  I  regret  it  is  not  in  my 
power  to  particularise  them.  I  must  also  beg  to 
be  permitted  to  express  my  admiration  of  Don 
Miguel  Tregoyen,  the  Commander  of  the  gun 
boats;  in  his  barge  he  laid  my  boat  alongside, 


417 

and  his  resistance  was  such  as  to  honour  a  brave 
officer,  eighteen  of  the  twenty  six  men  being 
killed,  and  himself  and  all  the  rest  wounded. 
Not  having  a  correct  list  of  our  killed  and 
wounded,  I  can  only  state  that  I  believe  about 
six  are  killed  and  twenty  wounded." 

Earl  St.  Vincent  to  Sir  Horatio  Nelson. 
"  My  dear  Admiral:  I  congratulate  you  most 
heartily  on  the  events  of  last  night.  Every  ser- 
vice you  are  engaged  in  adds  fresh  lustre  to  the 
British  arms  and  to  your  character.  The  letter 
is  characteristic  of  your  noble  soul,  and  cannot 
be  improved  by  the  ablest  pen  in  Europe.  John- 
son, first  lieutenant  of  the  Emerald,  is  a  man 
after  your  own  heart;  put  him  in  a  way  of  taking 
a  gun-boat,  and  I  will  answer  he  succeeds  or 
loses  his  life  in  the  attempt.  I  think  the  barges 
and  launches  should  come  to  you  to-morrow 
after  the  night  has  closed,  and  you  will  make 
your  arrangements  accordingly;  perhaps  it  would- 
be  better  to  try  to  carry  some  more  gun-boats 
without  the  bomb  ketch.  The  lieutenant  who 
has  the  greatest  merit  in  taking  a  brig,  shall  be 
made  Captain  of  her  immediately." — Sir  Horatio 
replied,  July  5th,  "  I  am  thankful,  my  dear  Sir, 
for  your  flattering  letter,  which,  as  we  all  like, 
I  will  believe  as  much  of  as  I  can.  To-night  my 
plan  is  for  Cadiz  on  the  outside  of  the  lighthouse : 
Jackson  knows  a  good  birth.  If  the  brigs  come 
out,  we  will  have  a  dash  at  them,  and  as  the 
boats  will  be  in  three  divisions  under  CaptainSj 

2  E 


418 

we  may  expect  a  little  more  regularity  in  case 
of  any  unforeseen  event.  Your  encouragement 
for  those  lieutenants  who  may  conspicuously 
exert  themselves,  cannot  fail  to  have  its  g-<od 
eifect  in  serving  our  Country;  instead  of  their 
thinking  that  if  a  vessel  is  taken,  it  would  make 
the  son  of  some  great  man  a  Captain,  in  the 
place  of  the  gallant  fellow  who  captured  her.  At 
present  the  Brigs  lie  too  close  to  each  other  to 
hope  for  a  dash  at  them,  but  soon  I  expect  to 
find  one  off  her  guard,  and  then — We  have 
eighty-seven  living  prisoners  now  on  board,  and 
near  thirty  have  died  of  their  wounds.  News 
from  Cadiz  this  morning  is,  that  some  peo- 
ple were  killed  in  the  town,  and  fifteen  were 
killed  and  a  great  number  wounded  in  the  Spa- 
nish gun-boats." 

Lord  St.  Vincent  in  a  subsequent  letter,  said, 
"  You  may  believe,  my  dear  Admiral,  every 
thing  I  say  and  write  of  you  and  to  you;  my 
public  letter  closes  thus,  Hear  Admiral  Nelsons 
actions  speak  for  themselves,  any  praise  from  my  pen 
would  take  from  his  merit.'" — His  Lordship  also 
added  in  this  despatch,  which  is  dated  July  5, 
"The  Rear  Admiral,  who  is  always  present  in 
the  mpst  arduous  enterprises,  with  the  assistance 
of  some  other  barges  boarded  and  carried  t"ro 
of  the  enemy's  gun-boats,  and  a  barge  launch  of 
one  of  their  ships  of  war,  with  the  Commandant 
of  the  flotilla.  In  this  short  conflict  eighteen 
or  twenty  Spaniards  were  killed,  the  Comman- 


419 

iclant  and  several  wounded;  himself  and  twenty- 
five  men  were  made  prisoners,  and  the  rest  swam 
on  shore.  This  spirited  action  was  performed 
with  inconsiderable  loss  on  our  part.  The  launch 
of  the  Ville  de  Paris  sunk  by  a  raking  shot  from 
the  enemy's  gun-boats;  but  by  the  active  intelli- 
gent mind  of  Captain  Troubridge  has  been  got 
up,  and  repaired  on  board  the  Culloden." — The 
noble  conduct  of  John  Sykes,  who  is  since  dead, 
was  thus  mentioned  by  Admiral  Nelson,  "The 
attack  of  the  Spanish  gun-boats  was  a  service  hand 
to  hand  with  szvords,  in  which  my  coxswain  John 
Sykes,  now  no  more,  twice  saved  my  *life"  This 
brave  man  twice  saved  the  life  of  his  beloved 
Commander  by  parrying  the  blows  that  were 
aimed  at  him,  and  at  last  actually  interposed  his 
own  head  to  receive  the  full  force  of  a  Spanish 
sabre;  which,  fighting  as  they  were  hand  to 
hand,  he  could  not  otherwise  have  prevented 
from  falling  on  Sir  Horatio. 

(1797.)  During  the  ensuing  night  July  .5,  the 
Rear  Admiral,  as  he  informed  Lord  St.  Vincent 
the  next  morning  at  half  past  three,  was  merely 
a  spectator.  The  enemy  had  got  the  exact  range 
of  the  bomb  vessel  and  boats  with  both  their  shot 
and  shells;  and,  as  the  end  had  answered  of  an- 
noying the  town,  forty  or  fifty  shells  having  been 
thrown  into  it,  Nelson  had  taken  the  caution  of 
advising  Captain  Bo  wen  to  tow  the  vessel  off: 
one  man  belonging  to  the  Theseus  was  killed 

z  Quarto  Edit.  Vol.  II.  page  2. 
2  E  2 


and  seven  badly  wounded,  and  the  ship  had  re- 
ceived some  shot  in  her  hull.  On  board  the  Ur- 
chin six  were  wounded.  The  enemy's  gun-boats 
kept  close  under  the  walls;  "and  no  opportu- 
nity," added  Sir  Horatio,  "was  offered  Bov/en 
to  make  a  dash." 

The  following  more  circumstantial  account  was 
sent  home  by  Lord  St.  Vincent  to  the  Admiralty. 
"  Rear  Admiral  Nelson  ordered  a  second  bom- 
bardment of  Cadiz  on  the  night  of  the  5th, 
under  the  direction  of  Captain  Bowen  of  the 
Terpsichore,  Captain  Miller  of  the  Theseus,  and 
Captain  Waller  of  the  Emerald;  and  appointed 
Mr.  Jackson,  master  of  the  Ville  de  Paris,  to 
place  the  Thunderer,  Terror,  and  Strombolo. 
The  bombardment  produced  considerable  effect 
in  the  town,  and  amongst  the  shipping;  ten  sail 
of  the  line,  amongst  them  the  ships  carrying  the 
flags  of  Admirals  Mazarredo  and  Gravina,  having 
warped  out  of  the  range  of  the  shells  with  much 
precipitation  the  following  morning." 

(1797.)  The  indefatigable  exertions  made  by 
the  Rear  Admiral  for  a  third  attempt,  in  which 
he  was  baffled  by  the  winds  blowing  too  strong 
down  the  bay,  are  glanced  at  in  his  letter  to 
Earl  St.  Vincent,  July  7;  a  thousand'piasties  had 
been  promised  by  the  Spaniards,  to  any  of  their 
vessels  that  should  take  or  sink  an  English  sloop, 
and  five  thousand  if  they  should  take  or  sink  an 
English  bomb  vessel.  "My  dear*  Sir;  I  am 
making  arrangements  for  fixing  the  ten  inch 
howitzer  in  the  mortar-boat,  and  doubt  not  of 


421 

succeeding;  the  other  boat  is  larger  and  better 
calculated  for  bad  weather  than  the  one  I  sent 
you  to  look  at;  but  1  shall  be  more  particular  in 
the  plan  I  have  now  in  my  head  The  informa- 
tion from  Cadiz  by  a  market  boat  is,  that  our 
shells  did  much  damage,  the  town  was  on  fire  in 
three  places:  one  shell  that  fell  in  a  convent 
destroyed  several  priests.  Plunder  and  robbery 
were  going  on,  displaying  a  horrid  scene  of  con- 
fusion: they  added,  that  representations  have 
been  made  to  Mazarredo  and  to  Madrid,  for  the 
fleet  to  go  out.  At  this  instant  I  see  an  Admiral 
moving  forwards,  it  is  Mazarredo!  Please  God, 
I  hope  the  Spanish  fleet  are  coming  out;  another 
Admiral  is  under  sail,  and  I  open  my  letter  to 
say  they  are  all  on  the  move." 

(17.97.)  These  sudden  movements  of  the  Spa- 
nish flag  ships  only  disappointed  the  sanguine 
hopes  of  Nelson.  On  the  9.th  of  July,  he  in- 
formed Lord  St.  Vincent,  that  although  he  hoped 
enough  had  been  done  to  force  out  the  Spanish 
fleet,  yet  in  case  there  had  not,  he  would  try 
them  again,  "  When,"  he  added,  "down  comes 
Cadiz,  and  not  only  Cadiz,  but  their  fleet,  if, 
Mazarredo  will  not  come  out.  As  for  their  shot 
flying  about  the  Theseus  it  will  do  her  good,  and 
make  her  the  better  for  your  support  in  some 
proud  day,  not  far  distant,  I  hope.  Portugal 
ought  to  be  grateful  for  your  attention  to  her 
interest,  and  so  ought  little  England.  The  Dons 
will  be  tired  enough  to  take  a  good  nap  this 


,  422 

afternoon.  The  people  of  Cadiz  are  told,  that 
they  have  made  great  destruction  amongst  us, 
ancj  believe  it,  and  reports  say  their  gun  and 
mortar- boats  are  to  attack  our  advanced  squa- 
dron the  very  first  calm  night.  If  they  succeed 
in  either  destroying  some  of  us,  or  crippling  our 
masts,  then  Mazarredo  puts  to  sea  and  destroys 
you:  therefore  do  not  be  surprised,  my  dear  Sir, 
if  you  hear  a  cannonade;  I  am  prepared," 

(1797-)  H.  R.  H.  the  Duke  of  Clarence  to  Sir 
Horatio  Nelson,  dated  July  4. — "Dear  Nelson: 
I  was  very  happy  to  find  you  had  executed  with 
so  much  success  and  promptitude  Lord  St.  Vin- 
cent's order  for  the  evacuation  of  Porto  Ferrajo. 
I  feel  for  poor  Oakes  on  every  account,  and 
sincerely  wish  he  was  safe  at  home;  and  believe 
me,  I  am  also  much  concerned  at  the  state  of 
your  own  health.  After  such  long  and  distin- 
guished service  you  will  of  course  get  leave  to 
return.  In  answer  to  your  last  letter,  I  can  only 
say,  that  I  hope,  and  believe,  our  confidence  is 
mutual ;  therefore  in  future  no  more  apology  on 
either  side  is  wanted.  Under  this  idea,  I  must 
begin  by  defending  an  officer,  against  whom  you 

have  become  prejudiced Want  of  discipline 

in  some  of  our  home  squadrons,  and  the  energy 
of  infamous  incendiaries,  had  for  many  months 
thrown  the  whole  fleet  into  a  state  of  democracy 
and  absolute  rebellion.  I  rejoice  that  the  Theseus 
has  fallen  in  to  such  good  hands,  and  I  shall  shortly 
hear  that  she  is  in  the  best  order  of  the  Mediter- 


423 

ranean  fleet.  One  word  more  about  what  haj 
passed  at  Spithead,  Plymouth,  and  the  Nore,  and 
I  will  never  mention  the  disgraceful  business 
again;  hut  I  cannot  pass  over  unnoticed  your 
remark  about  short  weights  and  measures.  Every 
officer  must  know  that  by  the  old  allowance,  the 
men  on  board  the  King's  ships  had  more  provi- 
sions than  they  could  consume,  and  that  they 
always  sold  a  part;  therefore  an  increase  of  pro- 
visions was  not  wanted.  I  M'ill  not  hurt  your 
mind  by  relating  the  horrid  particulars  of  the 
late  events,  but  shall  conclude  the  subject  by 
observing,  that  in  your  next  you  will  unsay  what 
you  have  too  hastily  expressed.  I  dread  nothing, 
as  the  government  here  appear  to  pursue  proper 
measures,  and  I  am  convinced  St.  Vincent  will 
keep  up  his  fleet  in  discipline.  Lenity  at  first  is 
severity  at  the  last.  My  best  wishes  and  compli- 
ments attend  your  gallant  Commander:  my  only 
acquaintance  with  him  is  as  an  officer.  His  very 
great  attention  and  abilities  were  shewn  to  me 
during  the  Spanish  armament,  since  which  time 
1  have,  and  always  shall  respect  him. 

"You  will  I  am  sure  always  distinguish  your- 
self; and  I  am  afraid,  from  the  exorbitant  de- 
mands of  the  Directory,  that  for  some  time  your 
fleet  will  be  constantly  employed.  I  am  happy 
to  find  you  are  at  last  come  over  to  my  way  of 
thinking.  As  circumstances  arise  pray  write, 
and  ever  believe  me,  dear  Sir,  yours  sincerely, 
WILLIAM." 


424 

(1797.)  In  a  letter  to  Lady  Nelson.  July  12— 
14,   Sir   Horatio  had   repeated   his    wish   that  n 
Cottage  should   be   purchased   for  them,  as  he 
adhered  to  his  determination  of  corning  home 
on  the  1st  of  October:   "  I  should  be  glad  if  the 
house  were  bought:  and,  if  you  do  not  object, 
/  should  like,  Norfolk  in  preference  to  any  other 
part  of  the  kingdom;  but  do  you  choose.     1  am 
sure  the  time  is  past   for  doing  any  thing  for 
George  Tobin;  had  he  been  with  me  he  would 
long  since  have  been  a  Captain,  and  I  should 
have  liked  it,  as  being  most  exceedingly  pleased 
with  him.    My  late  affair  here  will  not  I  believe 
lower  me  in  the  opinion  of  the  world.     I  have 
had  flattery  enough  to  make  me  vain,   and  suc- 
cess enough  to  make  me  confident.     When  you 
know  1  am  sent  from  the  fleet,  never  calculate 
on  a  letter  till  you  hear  I  am  returned.     I  am 
always  sorry  when  you  are  disappointed;  and  as 
I  may  now  be  absent  for  a  short  time,  do  not  be 
anxious  about  letters,  for  you  cannot  hear  from 
me.      Ever  believe  me  your  most  affectionate 
husband." 

(1797-)  II.  The  detached  service  to  which  the 
gallant  Admiral  here  alludes,  was  the  long  pro- 
jected expedition  toTeneriffe;  which,  as  appears 
from  a  preceding  letter  to  the  Commander  in 
Chief,  had  originated  in  the  daring  suggestion 
of  Nelson  himself.  To  the  advantages  which  an 
attack  on  the  town  of  Santa  Cruz  had  previously 
offered,  was  now  added  the  intelligence  that  had 


425 

been  received  respecting  the  arrival  there  of  a 
rich  Spanish  ship,  El  Principe  d'Asturias  from 
Manilla,  bound  to  Cadiz  with  treasure  and  a  rich 
cargo.  On  the  morning  of  the  14th  of  July,  at 
half  past  eight,  Sir  Horatio  weighed  and  stood 
towards  the  main  body  of  the  fleet;  and  at  noon 
received  orders  to  take  under  his  command  the 
Theseus,  Captain  J.W.  Miller,  Culloden,  Captain 
T.  Troubridge,  Zealous,  Captain  S.  Hood,  Lean- 
der,  Captain  T.  B.  Thompson,  Seahorse,  Captain 
Fremantle,  Emerald,  Captain  Waller,  Terpsichore, 
Captain  R.  Bowen,  Fox  cutter,  Lieutenant  Gib- 
son, and  a  mortar  boat;  and  by  a  sudden  and 
vigorous  assault  to  attempt  the  town  of  Santa 
Cruz.  Lord  St.  Vincent,  notwithstanding  the 
critical  situation  in  which  he  was  placed,  liberally 
allowed  Nelson  to  select  such  ships  and  officers 
as  he  approved  from  the  fleet.  The  next  day, 
Saturday  the  15th,  at  six  A.  M.  Sir  Horatio  and 
his  squadron  made  sail  to  the  westward,  without 
waiting  for  the  Leander  who  had  not  then  joined 
from  Lisbon,  but  followed  him  on  the  18th;  and 
in  a  hasty  note  he  informed  the  Admiral,  That 
nothing  which  ought  to  be  attempted  should  be  left 
undone. 

(1797.)  According  to  the  Journal11  of  their  pro- 

a  Drawn  up  for  the  information  of  Lord  St.  Vincent  under  the 
direction  of  Admiral  Nelson.  The  original  copy,  afterwards 
slightly  altered,  was  found  amongst  the  Nelson  papers.  This  has 
been  referred  to  and  enlarged  from  a  private  Journal,  which  the 
Admiral  kept  until  the  loss  of  his  arm.  Two  detailed  accounts 


426 

ceedings,  on  Sunday,  July  16,  when  distant  thirty 
leagues  from  Cape  St.  Vincent,  they  were  joined 
by  the  Terpsichore.  On  the  J7th  the  Captains 
of  the  squadron  came  on  board  the  Theseus,  and 
received  further  instructions;  and  on  the  18th 
the  small  armed  men  were  directed  to  exercise 
themselves  and  fire  at  a  target.  On  the  20th, 
when  within  thirteen  leagues  distance  of  Tene- 
riffe,  a  general  signal  M'as  made  for  the  Captains  ; 
and  Captain  Troubridge,  who  commanded  the 
seamen  and  marines  to  be  landed,  received  the 
following  orders : 

(1797-)  To  Thomas  Troubridge,  Esq.  Captain  of 
H.  M.  S.  Cultoden ,  and  Commander  of  the  Forces 
ordered  to  be  landed  for  taking  Santa  Cruz,  dated 
Theseus  at  sea,  July  20. — "  Sir,  I  desire  you  will 
take  under  your  command  the  number  of  seamen 
and  marines  named  in  the  margin, b  who  will  be 
under  Captains  Hood,  Miller,  Fremantle,  Bowen 
and  Waller,  and  the  marines  under  Captain 
Thomas  Oldfield,  and  a  detachment  of  the  royal 

of  these  transactions  were  found  amongst  some  papers  in  a  Spa- 
nish schooner  going  home  with  despatches,  captured  off  the  coast 
of  Barbary  in  August  1797.»  by  the  Alcmene  and  Andromache 
frigates. 

b  Theseus 200' 

Cullodeo 200 

Zealous 20°     Exclusive  of  commissioned  Officers 

Seahorse 100>-  and  servants. 

Terpsichore  . . .    100        r™     i       j     u  j      .  *u      •  •     A 
Ihe  Leander  had  not  then  joined. 
Emerald 100 

900. 


427 

artillery  under  Lieutenant  Baynes,  all  of  whom 
are  now  embarked  on  board  his  majesty's  frigates 
Seahorse,  Terpsichore,  and  Emerald.     With  this 
detachment  you  will  proceed  as  near  to  the  town 
of  Santa  Cruz  as  possible,  without  endangering 
your  being  perceived;  when  you  will  embark  as 
many  men  as  the  boats   will  carry,   and  force 
your  landing  in  the  north  east  part  of  the  bay  of 
Santa  Cruz,  near  a  large  battery.     The  moment 
you  are  on  shore  I  recommend  you  first  to  at- 
tack the  battery;  which  when  carried,  and  your 
post  secured,  you  will  either  proceed  by  storm 
against  the  town  and  mole-head  battery,  or  send 
in  my  letter,  as  you  judge  most  proper,  contain- 
ing a  Summons  of  uhich  I  send  you  a  copy  ;  and 
the  terms  are  either  to  be  accepted  or  rejected 
in  the  time  specified,  unless  you  see  good  cause 
for  prolonging  it,  as  no  alteration  will  be  made 
in  them  :    and  you  will  pursue  such  other  me- 
thods as  you   judge   most   proper  for  speedily 
effecting  my  orders,  which  are  to  possess  myself 
of  all  cargoes  and  treasures  which  may  be  landed 
in  the  island  of  Teneriffe.     Having  the  firmest 
confidence  in  the  ability,   bravery,  and  zeal  of 
yourself,  and  of  all  placed  under  your  command, 
I  have  only  heartily  to  \vish  you  success,  and  to 
assure  you  that  I   am  your  most  obedient  and 
faithful  servant,  Horatio  Nelson." 

(1797.)  To  the  Governor;  or  Commanding  Officer 
of  Santa  Cruz,  the  Summons  of  Sir  Horatio  Nelson, 
Knight  of  the  most  Honourable  Order  of  the  Bath, 


428 

Rear  Admiral  of  the  Blue,  and  Commander  in 
Chief  of  his  Britannick  Majesty's  forces  by  sea  and 
land  before  Santa  CVwz;  dated  Theseus,  QOfh  July. 
— "Sir,  I  have  the  honour  to  acquaint  you,  that 
I  am  come  to  demand  the  immediate  surrender 
of  the  ship  El  Principe  d'Asturias  from  Manilla 
bound  to  Cadiz,  belonging  to  the  Philipine  Com- 
pany, together  with  her  \vhole  and  entire  cargo; 
and  also  all  such  other  cargoes  and  property  as 
may  have  been  landed  in  the  island  of  Teneriffe, 
and  not  intended  for  the  consumption  of  its  in- 
habitants. And,  as  it  is  my  earnest  wish  that  not 
one  individual  inhabitant  of  the  island  of  Tene- 
riffe should  suffer  by  my  demand  being  instantly 
complied  with,  I  offer  the  most  honourable  and 
liberal0  terms;  which  if  refused,  the  horrors  of 
war  that  will  fall  on  the  inhabitants  of  Teneriffe, 
must  be  by  the  world  imputed  to  you  and  you 
only ;  for  I  shall  destroy  Santa  Cruz  and  the 
other  towns  in  the  island  by  a  bombardment, 
and  levy  a  very  heavy  contribution  on  the 
island. 

The  following  judicious  Regulations  were  re- 
commended by  h^m.—  First,  That  the  boats  of 
each  ship  should  be  kept  together  by  towing 
each  other,  which  will  keep  the  people  of  each 
ship  collected,  and  the  boats  in  six  divisions  will 
be  nearly  got  on  shore  the  same  moment.  Se- 
condly, The  marines  of  each  ship  of  the  line  to 

e  See  Quarto  Edit.  vol.  ii.  page  3O. 


429 

be  put  in  their  launches,  which  will  carry  them* 
Thirdly,  The  moment  the  boats  are  discovered 
by  a  firing  being  made  on  them,  the  bomb  ves- 
sel to  commence  her  fire  on  the  town,  and  to 
keep  it  up  till  the  flag  of  truce  is  hoisted  from 
either  the  enemy,  or  from  us.  Fourthly,  That 
a  Captain  should  be  directed  to  see  the  boats  put 
off  from  the  beach,  that  more  men  may  be 
speedily  got  on  shore  with  the  field  pieces. 
Fifthly,  Frigates  to  anchor  as  soon  as  possible 
after  the  alarm  is  given,  or  the  forces  are  ashore, 
near  the  battery  in  the  N.  E.  part  of  the  bay. 
Sixthly,  Immediately  as  the  forces  are  ashore, 
they  are  to  get  in  the  rear  of  the  battery  marked 
S.  in  the  N.  E.  part  of  the  bay,  and  to  instantly 
storm  it,  and  also  to  take  post  on  the  top  of  the 
hill  which  is  above  it.  Every  ship  to  land  the 
number  of  men  as  against  their  name  expressed, 
with  a  proper  proportion  of  officers :  And  the 
Captains  are  at  liberty  to  send  as  many  more 
men  as  they  please,  leaving  sufficient  to  manage 
the  ship,  and  to  man  the  launch  and  another 
boat  Every  Captain,  that  chooses,  is  at  liberty 
to  land  and  command  his  seamen,  under  the  di- 
rection of  Captain  Troubridge. 

"It  is  recommended  to  put  on  the  seamen  as 
many  marine  coats  or  jackets  as  can  be  procured, 
and  th  it  all  should  have  canvass  crop  belts.  The 
mnrines  to  be  all  under  the  orders  of  Captain 
Oldfield,  the  senior  marine  officer,  and  he  is  re- 
quested to  put  himself  under  the  direction  of 


430 

of  Captain  Troubridge,  as  is  lieutenant  Baynes  of 
the  royal  artillery  with  his  detachment." 

The  experience,  and  the  cautious  mind  of  Nel- 
son endeavouring  to  anticipate  every  possible 
obstacle,  appear  throughout  the  whole  of  these 
Orders  and  Regulations  ;  Copies  of  which  having 
been  sent  to  the  respective  Captains,  the  boats  of 
the  squadron  were  in  the  afternoon  hoisted  out 
to  take  the  force,  to  be  landed  from  the  different 
ships,  on  board  the  Seahorse,  Terspichore  and 
Einerald  frigates ;  and  a  general  signal  was  then 
made,  for  the  Captains  of  those  ships  to  repair  on 
board  the  Admiral  and  receive  the  following 
final  Orders: 

"July  21.  The  Culloden's  officers  and  men 
with  only  their  arms,  to  be  ready  to  go  on  board 
the  Terpsichore  at  one  P.  M.  this  day,  to  carry 
with  them  four  ladders,  each  of  which  is  to  have 
a  lanyard  four  fathoms  long,  a  sledge  hammer, 
wedges,  and  a  broad  axe.  The  boats  oars  to  be 
muffled  either  with  a  piece  of  canvass  or  ker- 
sey. H  N. 

*  Memorandum.  The  Culloden  and  Zealous  each 
to  make  a  platform  for  one  eighteen-pounder, 
the  Theseus  a  sley  for  dragging  cannon.  Each 
ship  to  make  as  many  iron  ramrods  as  possible,  it 
being  found  that  the  wooden  ones  are  very  liable 
to  break  when  used  in  a  hurry.  The  Seahorse 
to  make  a  platform  for  one  nine-pounder.' — 
Having  received  these  orders,  the  Captains  went 
on  board  the  frigates,  and  stood  for  Teneriffe. 


431 

c  On  Friday  the  21st  of  July,  I  directed,'  adds 
the  Admiral  in  his  Journal,  *  to  be  embarked  on 
board  the  Seahorse,  Terpsichore,  and  Emerald 
frigates,  1000  men,  including  250  marines  ;  at- 
tended by  all  the  boats  of  the  Squadron,  scaling 
ladders,  and  every  implement  which  I  thought 
necessary  for  the  success  of  the  enterprise.  I  di- 
rected that  the  boats  should  land  in  the  night, 
between  the  fort  on  the  N.  E.  side  of  the  bay  of 
Santa  Cruz,  and  the  town/  and  endeavour  to 
make  themselves  masters  of  that  fort ;  which 
when  done,  my  summons  to  the  Governor  was  to 
be  sent  in,  and  half  an  hour  allowed  for  its  ac- 
ceptance or  rejection.  Although  the  frigates, 
by  twelve  o'clock,  approached  within  three  miles 
of  the  intended  place  of  debarkation  ;  yet  from 
the  unforeseen  circumstance  of  a  strong  gale  of 
wind  in  the  offing,  and  a  strong  current  against 
them  inshore,  they  were  not  able  to  get  within  a 
mile  of  the  landing-place  before  the  day  dawned, 
and  discovered  our  force  and  intentions  to  the 
Spaniards.  At  half  past  three  on  the  morning 
of  the  22d,  the  Theseus  and  squadron  bore  up 
for  Santa  Cruz,  and  at  half  past  four  we  saw 
the  Seahorse,  Terpsichore,  and  Emerald  off  the 
island,  with  the  mortar-boat,  and  the  ships'  boats 
pulling  off  shore. 

"  On  my  approach,   Captains  Troubridge  and 

d  According  to  a  private  letter,  "  About  two  miles  to  the  east- 
ward of  the  town." 


432 

llowen,  with  Captain  Oldfield  of  the  marines, 
came  on  board  to  consult  with  me  what  was  best 
to  be  clone;  and  were  of  opinion,  that  if  they 
could  possess  themselves  of  the  heights  over  the 
fort  above  mentioned,  it  could  be  stormed  ;  to 
which  I  gave  my  assent.  At  nine  the  frigates 
anchored  inshore,  off  the  east  end  of  the  town, 
and  landed  their  men.  Stood  off  and  on  Santa 
Cruz  with  the  line  of  battle  ships,  and  wore  oc- 
casionally. At  ten  o'clock  made  the  signal  to 
prepare  for  battle,  intending  to  batter  the  fort 
with  the  line  of  battle  ships,  in  order  to  create 
a  diversion ;  but  this  was  found  impracticable, 
not  being  able  to  get  nearer  the  shore  than  three 
miles,  from  a  calm  and  contrary  currents  ;  nor 
could  our  men  possess  themselves  of  the  heights, 
as  the  enemy  had  taken  possession,  and  seemed 
as  anxious  to  retain,  as  we  were  to  get  them. 
Thus  foiled  in  my  original  plan,  I  considered  it 
necessary  for  the  honour  of  our  King  and  Coun- 
try, not  to  give  over  the  attempt  to  possess  our- 
selves of  the  town,  that  our  enemies  might  be 
convinced  there  was  nothing  which  English- 
men were  not  equal  to ;  and  confident  in  the 
bravery  of  those  who  would  be  employed  in  the 
service,  I  embarked  every  person  from  the  shore 
on  the  22d  at  night. 

"On  the  24-th  of  July,  I  got  the  ships  to  an  an- 
chor about  two  miles  to  the  north  ward  of  the  town; 
and  made  every  shew  for  a  disposition  of  attacking 
the  heights,  which  appeared  to  answer  the  end  from 


433 

the  great  number  of  people  they  had  placed  on 
them.  The  Leander,  Captain  Thompson,  joined  in 
the  afternoon,  and  her  marines  were  added  to  the 
force  before  appointed,  and  Captain  Thompson 
also  volunteered  his  services.  At  half  past  five  in- 
the  evening  the  squadron  anchored  a  few  miles  to 
the  northward  of  Santa  Cruz ;  and  at  six  the 
signal  was  made  for  boats  to  prepare  to  proceed 
on  service  as  previously  ordered." 

"  At  eleven  o'clock  at  night,"  adds  the  Jour- 
nal, "  the  boats  of  the  squadron  containing  be- 
tween 6  and  700  men,  with  180  on  board  the 
Fox  cutter,  and  about  70  or  80  in  a  boat  we  had 
taken  the  day  before,  proceeded  in  six  divisions 
towards  the  town.  The  divisions  of  the  boats 
were  conducted  by  all  the  Captains,  except  Fre- 
mantle  and  Bowen,  who  attended  with  me  to  re- 
gulate and  lead  the  way  to  the  attack ;  every 
Captain  being  acquainted  that  the  landing 
was  to  be  made  on  the  Mole,  whence  they  were 
to  hasten  as  fast  as  possible  into  the  great  square, 
and  there  to  form  and  proceed  on  such  services 
as  might  be  found  necessary.  We  were  not  dis- 
covered until  half  past  one  o'clock,  when  being 
within  half  gun  shot  of  the  landing  place,  J  di- 
rected the  boats  to  cast  off  from  each  other,  give 
an  huzza,  and  push. for  the  shore.  The  alarm 
bells  immediately  rang,  and  a  fire  of  thirty  or 
forty  pieces  of  cannon,  with  musquetry  from  one 
end  of  the  town  to  the  other,  opened  upon  us; 
but  nothing  could  stop  the  intrepidity  of  the 
Captains  leading  the  divisions.  Unfortunately, 

2  F 


the  night  being  extremely  dark,  the  greatest 
part  of  the  boats  did  not  see  the  Mole;  but  went 
on  shore  through  a  raging  surf,  which  stove  all 
the  boats  to  the  left  of  it.  It  was  only  Captains 
Fremantle,  Thompson,  Bowen,  and  myself,  with 
four  or  five  boats  who  found  the  Mole;  which 
was  instantly  stormed  and  carried,  although  de- 
fended apparently  by  four  or  five  hundred  men, 
and  the  guns,  six  twenty-four  pounders,  were 
spiked :  but  such  a  heavy  fire  of  musquetry  and 
grape  shot  was  kept  up  from  the  citadel  and 
houses  at  the  head  of  the  Mole  that  we  could  not 
advance,  and  nearly  all  were  killed  or  wounded. 
Having  at  this  moment6  my  right  arm  shot 
through,  I  was  carried  off  to  my  ship." 

Previous  to  their  making  this  last  desperate 
attempt,  the  gallant  Sir  Horatio  with  some  of 
the  Captain*  of  his  squadron,  had  agreed  to  meet 
at  supper  on  board  the  Seahorse,  Captain  Fre- 
mantle, at  whose  table  the  lady  whom  he  had 
lately  married  in  the  Mediterranean  presided. 
Nelson  on  leaving  the  Theseus,  being  sensible  of 
the  extreme  danger  to  which  he  was  about  to  be 
exposed,  "had  called  his  son  in  law  lieutenant 
Nisbet,  who  had  the  watch  on  deck,  into  the 
cabin,  that  he  might  assist  in  arranging  anrj 
burning  his  mother's  letters:  when  perceiving 
that  the  young  man  was  armed,  he  had  begged 

•  This  last  sentence  is  only  found  in  the  rough  MS.  of  this 
Journal  dictated  by  the  Admiral,  and  drawn  up  by  the  secretary  j 
and  has  a  pen  drawn  across  it,  as  if  Nelson  had  resolved  not  to 
speak  hi  mself  of  the  wound  he  had  received. 


435 

of  him  earnestly  to  remain  behind,  adding,  Should 
we  both  fall,  Josiah,  what  would  become  of  your 
poo?'  Mother?  The  care  of  the  Theseus  falls  to  you; 
stay,  therefore,  and  take  charge  of  her.  Sir,  re- 
plied Nisbet,  the  ship  must  take  care  of  herself .  I 
will  go  with  yvu  to  night,  if  I  never  go  again. 

Thus  attended  by  his  son  in  law,  Nelson  had 
proceeded  from  the  Seahorse  to  the  Mole  of 
Santa  Cruz;  and  had  there  received  his  severe 
wound  through  the  f right  elbow,  as  he  was  in 
the  act  of  drawing  his  sword  and  stepping  out 
of  the  boat.  This  sword  which  he  had  so  long 
and  deservedly  valued  from  respect  to  his  uncle 
Maurice  Suckling,  was  grasped  when  falling  in 
his  left  hand,  notwithstanding  the  agony  he  en- 
dured. Lieutenant  Nisbet,  who  had  remained 
close  to  him,  saw  his  father  in  law  wounded  from 
the  tremendous  fire  of  the  Spaniards,  and  heard 
him  exclaim,  /  am  shot  through  the  arm,  I  am  a 
dead  man!  Nisbet  placed  him  at  the  bottom  of 
the  boat,  and  observing  that  the.  sight  of  the 
quantity  of  blood  that  had  rushed  from  the  shat- 
tered arm  seemed  to  increase  the  faintness,  he 
took  off  his  hat  to  conceal  it.  He  then  with 
great  presence  of  mind  examined  the  state  of 
the  wound,  and  holding  the  shattered  arm  so  as  to 
stanch  the  blood,  he  took  some  silk  handkerchiefs 
from  his  neck  and  bound  them  tightly  above  the 

f  According  to  the  information  of  an  Officer  who  was  present, 
the  same  fire  from  the  enemy  which  wounded  Admiral  Nelson, 
also  wounded  seven  other  men  in  their  right  arms. 

2  F  2 


436 

lacerated  vessels;  but  for  this  attention,  Nelson 
as  he  afterwards  declared,  must  have  perished. 
Mr.  Nisbet  was  assisted  by  a  seaman  of  the  name 
of  Lovel,  one  of  the  Admiral's  bargemen;  who, 
having  torn  his  shirt  into  shreds,  constructed 
a  sling  for  the  wounded  arm.  They  then  col- 
lected five  other  seamen,  and  at  length  with 
their  assistance  got  the  boat  afloat,  which  had 
grounded  from  the  falling  of  the  tide.  Having 
thus  far  succeeded,  Lieutenant  Nisbet  took  one 
of  the  oars  that  remained,  and  ordered  the  man 
who  steered  to  go  close  under  the  guns  of  the 
batteries,  that  they  might  be  safe  from  their 
tremendous  fire.  The  voice  of  his  son  in  law 
enforcing  this  judicious  order,  roused  Sir  Ho- 
ratio from  his  fainting  state,  and  he  immediately 
desired  to  be  lifted  up  in  the  boat,  that,  to  use 
his  own  words,  "  he  might  look  a  little  about 
him :"  he  was  accordingly  raised  by  Nisbet.  The 
destructive  fire  of  the  enemy  amidst  the  dark- 
ness of  the  night  was  sublimely  dreadful:  a 
painful  uncertainty  prevailed  respecting  the  fate 
of  his  brave  companions;  when,  on  a  sudden,  a 
general  shriek  from  the  crew  of  the  Fox  Cutter, 
which  had  sunk  from  a  shot  she  had  received 
under  water,  made  the  noble  Admiral  forget  his 
own  weak  and  painful  state.  Many  were  rescued 
from  a  watery  grave  by  Sir  Horatio  himself, 
whose  humane  exertions  on  this  occasion  added 
considerably  to  the  agony  and  danger  of  his 
wound:  Ninety  seven  men,  including  lieutenant 
Gibson,  were  lost,  and  eighty  three  were  saved. 


437 

Some  account  of  what  passed  after  the  Admi- 
ral had  been  wounded,  is  contained  in  a  letter 
from  Mr.  Hoste,  one  of  the  midshipmen,  to  his 
father.  "At  two  o'clock  in  the  morning  Admi- 

O 

ral  Nelson  returned  on  board,  being  dreadfully 
wounded  in  his  right  arm  with  a  grape  shot.  I 
leave  you,  Sir,  to  judge  of  my  situation,  when  I 
beheld  our  hoat  approach  with  him  who  I  may 
say  has  been  a  second  father  to  me,  his  right 
arm  dangling  by  his  side,  whilst  with  his  left 
he  jumped  up  the  ship's  side,  and  displayed  a 
spirit  that  astonished  every  one.  He  underwent 
the  amputation  with  the  same  firmness  and  cou- 
rage that  have  always  marked  his  character.  At 
four  o'clock  several  of  the  boats  returned  to  the 
ship,  not  having  been  able  to  land  on  account  of 
the  heavy  fire  that  was  kept  up  by  the  enemy. 
At  daylight  the  enemy  began  to  cannonade  the 
shipping,  which  we  returned,  and  soon  silenced 
them.  We  now  began  to  entertain  bad  hopes 
of  our  men  who  had  landed,  and  not  without 
reason;  for  in  less  than  half  an  hour  afterwards, 
a  boat,  that  had  escaped  from  the  shore,  informed 
us  that  all  our  people  were  obliged  to  surrender, 
having  stipulated  that  they  should  be  sent  on 
board  their  respective  ships,  which  was  granted 
by  the  governor.  At  nine,  a  flag  of  truce  came  off 
from  Santa  Cruz  with  a  Spanish  officer,  and  the 
Captain  of  the  Emerald,  who  besides  other  bad 
news  informed  us,  that  lieutenant  Weatherhead 


438 

was  mortally  wounded.  On  Sunday  the  30th, 
his  body  was  committed  to  the  deep,  and  three 
vollies  of  musquetry  were  fired  in  honour  to  his 
memory." 

Captain  Fremantle  was  severely  wounded  in. 
the  right  arm  soon  after  the  Admiral,  and  for- 
tunately meeting  with  a  boat  on  the  beach,  had 
been  instantly  conveyed  to  the  Seahorse.  For 
the  proceedings  of  Captain  Troubridge  and  of 
the  officers  who  were  with  him,  Sir  Horatio  re- 
ferred Lord  St.  Vincent  to  the  following  letter; 
and  added,  "  I  cannot  but  express  my  admiration 
of  the  firmness  with  which  Captain  Troubridge 
and  his  brave  associates  supported  the  honour  of 
the  British  flag;  and  I  must  not  omit  to  acquaint 
you  with  the  satisfaction  I  received  from  the 
conduct  of  lieutenant  Baynes  of  the  Royal  artil- 
lery, not  only  from  the  ardour  with  which  he 
undertook  every  service,  but  also  from  his  pro- 
fessional skill." 

(1797.)  Captain  Troubridge  to  Sir  Horatio  Nel- 
son, K.  B.  dated  Cullodcji,  July  25. — "Sir,  from 
the  darkness  of  the  night  I  did  not  immediately 
hit  the  Mole,  the  spot  appointed  to  land  at,  but 
pushed  on  shore  under  the  enemy's  battery  close 
to  the  southward  of  the  citadel;  Captain  Waller 
landed  at  the  same  time,  and  two  or  three  other 
boats.  The  surf  was  so  high  many  put  back;  the 
boats  were  full  of  water  in  an  instant,  and  stove 
against  the  rocks,  and  most  of  the  ammunition 
in  the  men's  pouches  was  wet.  As  soon  as  I  had 


439 

collected  a  few  men,  I  immediately  advanced 
with  Captain  Waller  to  the  square,  the  place  of 
rendezvous,  in  hopes  of  there  meeting  you  and 
the  remainder  of  the  people;  and  I  waited  about 
an  hour,  during  which  time  I  sent  a  Serjeant, 
with  two  gentlemen  of  the  town,  to  summon  the 
citadel.  I  fear  the  serjeant  was  shot  on  his  way, 
as  I  heard  nothing  of  him  afterwards.  The  lad- 
ders being  all  lost  in  the  surf,  or  not  to  be  found, 
no  immediate  attempt  could  be  made  on  the 
citadel;  I  therefore  marched  to  join  Captains 
Hood  and  Miller,  who  I  hud  intelligence  had 
made  good  their  landing,  with  a  body  of  men, 
to  the  S.  VV.  of  the  place  I  did.  I  then  endea* 
voured  to  procure  some  account  of  you  and  the 
rest  of  the  officers,  but  without  success.  By  day- 
break we  had  collected  about  eighty  marines, 
eighty  pikemen,  and  one  hundred  and  eighty 
small  armed  seamen;  these  I  found  were  all  who 
remained  alive  that  had  made  good  their  landing: 

<J  O 

with  this  force,  having  procured  some  ammu- 
nition from  the  Spanish  prisoners  we  had  made, 
we  were  marching  to  try  what  could  be  done 
with  the  citadel  without  ladders;  when  we  found 
the  whole  of  the  streets  commanded  by  field 
pieces,  and  upwards  of  8000  Spaniards  and  100 
French  under  arms,  approaching  by  every  ave- 
nue. As  the  boats  were  all  stove,  and  I  saw  no 
possibility  of  getting  more  men  on  shore,  the 
ammunition  wet,  and  no  provisions,  I  sent  Cap- 
tain Hood  with  a  flag  of  truce  to  the  Governor, 


,       4-40 

to  declare,  '  I  was  prepared  to  burn  the  town, 
which  I  should  immediately  put  in  force,  if  he 
approached  one  inch  farther;'  and  at  the  same 
time  I  desired  Captain  Hood  to  say,  '  It  would 
he  done  with  regret,  as  I  had  no  wish  to  injure 
the  inhabitants;  that  if  he  would  come  to  my 
terms  I  was  willing  to  treat;'  which  he  agreed 
to.  I  had  the  honour. to  send  you  a  copy  of  them 
by  Captain  Waller,  which  I  hope  will  meet  with 
your  approbation,  and  appear  highly  honourable. 
The  following  parly  was  sent  with  the  flag  of 
truce:  l Santa  Cruz,  July  9.5th.  That  the  troops, 
&c.  belonging  to  his  Britannic  Majesty  shall  em- 
bark with  all  their  arms  of  every  kind,  and  take 
their  boats  off,  if  saved,  and  be  provided  with 
such  other  as  may  be  wanting:  In  consideration 
of  which  it  is  engaged  on  their  part,  that  they 
shall  not  molest  the  town  in  any  manner  by  the 
Ships  of  the  British  squadron  now  before  it,  nor 
any  of  the  islands  in  the  Canaries,  and  prisoners 
shall  be  given  up  on  both  sides.  Given  under 
my  hand  and  Word  of  Honour,  SAM.  HOOD. 
Ratified  by  T.  TROUBRIDGE,  and  J.ANTONIO 
GUTIERREZ." 

Captain  Troubridge  thus  concluded  his  letter. 
"  From  the  small  body  of  men,  and  the  greater 
part  being  pike  and  small  armed  seamen,  which 
can  be  only  called  irregulars,  with  very  little 
ammunition  in  the  pouches  but  what  had  got  wet 
in  the  surf  at  landing,  I  could  not  expect  to  suc- 
ceed in  any  attempt  upon  the  enemy,  M-hosc  su- 


441 

perior  strength  I  have  before  mentioned.  The 
Spanish  Officers  assure  me  they  expected  us,  and 
were  perfectly  prepared  with  all  the  hatteries 
and  the  number  of  men  already  mentioned  under 
arms.  This,  with  the  great  disadvantage  of  a 
rocky  coast,  high  surf,  and  in  the  face  of  forty 
pieces  of  cannon,  will  shew,  though  we  were  not 
successful,  what  an  Englishman  is  equal  to;  and 
I  have  the  pleasure  to  acquaint  you,  that  we 
marched  through  the  town  on  our  return  with 

O 

the  British  colours  flying  at  our  head.  P.  S.  I 
beg  also  to  say,  that  when  the  terms  were  signed 
and  ratified,  the  Governor  in  the  handsomest 
manner  sent  a  large  proportion  of  wine,  bread, 
&c.  to  refresh  the  people,  and  shewed  every 
mark  of  attention  in  his  power."' 

Nothing  could  surpass  the  steady  and  decided 
valour  which  the  whole  of  the  selected  band  of 
heroes  displayed  on  this  memorable  though  un- 
successful enterprise.  Their  last  attempt  was 
certainly  daring  and  hazardous  in  the  extreme, 
and  it  was  considered  by  them  all  as  the  forlorn 
hope. — Having  paid  their  last  melancholy  duty 
to  the  remains  of  the  gallant  Bowen,  whose  fall 
was  a  loss  to  his  Country,  Sir  Horatio  Nelson 
immediately  sent  off  his  despatches  to  Lord  St. 
Vincent  on  board  the  Emerald,  Captain  Waller, 
which  sailed  on  the  next  clay,  July  28.  Of  these 
the  following  is  a  copy.  "Theseus,  off  Santa  Cruz. 
Sir,  In  obedience  to  your  orders  to  make  a  vigo- 
rous attack  on  the  town  of  Santa  Cruz  in  the 


442 


island  of  Teneriffe,  I  dfrected,  from  the  ships 
under  my  command,  1000  men,  including  ma- 
rines, to  be  prepared  for  landing  under  the  direc- 
tion of  Captain  Troubridge  of  H.  M.  S.  Cullo- 
den,  and  Captains  Hood,  Thompson,  Fremantle, 
Bowen,  Miller  and  Waller,  who  very  handsomely 
volunteered  their  services;  and  although  I  am 
under  the  painful  necessity1  of  acquainting  you, 
that  \ve  have  not  been  able  to  succeed  in  our 
attack,  yet  it  is  my  duty  to  state,  that  I  believe 
more  daring  intrepidity  was  never  shewn  than 
by  the  Captains,  Officers,  and  men,  you  did  me 
the  honour  to  place  under  my  command;  and 
the  detail  which  I  transmit  you  herewith,  will  I 
hope  convince  you  that  my  abilities,  humble  as 
they  are,  have  been  exerted  on  the  present  occa- 
sion. Enclosed  I  also  transmit  you  a  list  of  killed 
and  wounded;2  and  amongst  the  former  it  is  with 

g  List  of  the  Killed,  Wounded,  and  Drowned,  at  the  Attack  of 
Santa  Cruz. 


Ship's  Names. 

Kii 

cd. 

Woui 

dcrt- 

Drowned 
Seamen  and 

Total 

Total 
Wounded  and 

Drowned. 

8 

4 

•J5 

o 

34 

12 

59 

1 

2 

12 

6 

36 

3 

54 

* 

2 

19 

2 

0 

5 

21 

1 

5 

j 

4 

0 

0 

5 

2 

0 

1 

0 

2 

14 

Terpsichore  

8 
5 

0 
3 

0 

1 

o 

4 
10 

.    8 

15 
21 

0 

o 

1  -J 

o 

17 

Total 

28 

10 

00 

II 

101 

44 

206 

Officers  killed.  Richard  Bowen,  Cnptain   of  the  Terpsichore. 
George  Thorpe,  first  Lieutenant  of  ditto.     John  Wetherhead, 


443 

the  deepest  sorrow  1  have  to  place  the  name  of 
Captain  Richard  Bowen  of  H.  M.  S.  Terpsichore, 
than  whom  a  more  enterprising,  ahle  and  gallant 
Officer  does  not  grace  his  Majesty's  haval  ser- 
vice; and  with  much  regret  I  have  to  mention 
the  loss  of  lieutenant  John  Gibson,  Commander 
of  the  Fox  cutter,  and  a  great  number  of  gallant 
officers  and  men." 

(1797.)  By  the  same  conveyance  the  dejected 
Nelson  sent  the  following  private  communica- 
tion to  his  Admiral,  descriptive  of  the  pain  he 
endured  hoth  in  mind  and  body;  dated  Theseus, 
July  27-  "  My  dear  Sir,  Iain  become  a  burthen 
to  my  friends  and  useless  to  my  Country,  but  by 
my  letter  wrote  the  24th  you  will  perceive  my 
anxiety  for  the  promotion  of  my  son  in  law 
Josiah  Nisbet:  when  I  leave  your  command  I 
become  dead  to  the  world,  I  go  hence  and  am 
no  more  seen:  if  from  poor  Bowen's  loss  you 
think  it  proper  to  oblige  me  I  rest  confident  you 
will  do  it;  the  boy  is  under  obligations  to  me, 
but  he  repaid  me  by  bringing  me  from  the  mole 
of  Santa  Cruz.  I  hope  you  will  be  able  to  give 

Lieutenant  of  the  Theseus.  William  Earnshaw,  second  Lieute- 
nant of  the  Leander.  Raby  Robinson,  Lieutenant  of  the  Marines, 
Leander.  Lieutenant  Baisham,  Marines,  Emerald.  Lieutenant 
Gibson  of  the  Fox  cutter  drowned. 

Officers  wounded.  Rear  Admiral  Nelson,  right  arm  shot 
through.  Captain  Thompson,  Leander,  slightly.  Captain  Fre- 
mantle,  Seahorse,  in  the  right  arm.  Lieutenant  J.  Douglas, 
ditto,  in  the  hand.  Mr.  Waits,  midshipman,  Zealous. 


444 

me  a  frigate  to  convey  the  remains  of  my  car- 
case to  England.  God  bless  you,  my  dear  Sir, 
and  believe  me  your  most  obliged  and  faithful 
Horatio  Nelson." 

Before  the  squadron  left  the  island  of  Tene- 
riffe,  mutual  civilities  had  passed  between  Sir 
Horatio  and  D.  Juan:  the  former  had  requested 
the  Governor  to  accept  of  a  cask  of  English  beer 
and  a  cheese,  and  he  in  return  had  sent  the  Ad- 
miral a  couple  of  large  flasks  of  the  best  Canary 
wine. 

(1797.)  Earl  St.  Vincent  to  Sir  Horatio  Nelson, 
August  1G. — My  dear  Admiral,  Mortals  cannot 
command  success,  you  and  your  companions 
have  certainly  deserved  it,  by  the  greatest  de- 
gree of  Heroism,  and  Perseverance,  that  ever 
was  exhibited.  I  grieve  for  the  loss  of  your 
arm,  and  for  the  fate  of  poor  Bowen  and  Gibson, 
with  that  of  the  other  brave  men  who  fell  so 
gallantly.  I  hope  you  and  Captain  Fremantle 
are  doing  well;  the  Seahorse  shall  carry  you  to 
England  the  moment  her  wants  are  supplied. 
All  the  wishes  you  mav  favour  me  with  shall  be 

•f  * 

fulfilled,  as  far  as  is  consistent  with  what  I  owe 
to  some  valuable  officers  in  the  Ville  de  Paris. 
Yours  most  truly  and  affectionately." 

Sir  Horatio  went  on  board  the  Admiral  the 
same  day,  but  came  back  to  his  own  ship  at  four 
in  the  afternoon.  His  official  leave  to  return  to 
England  is  dated  August  20,  by  Mhich  time  the 
Seahorse  had  got  properly  fitted  for  the  passage. 


445 

Being  arrived  at  Spit  head,  lie  received  the  Ad- 
miralty's permission  on  September  2d  to  strike 
his  flag,  and  immediately  proceeded  without  de- 
lay to  his  Father  and  Lady  Nelson  at  Bath.     His 
letter,   as  he  imagined,  had  not  long  preceded 
his  arrival.     The  difference  of  the  hand-writing 
had  at  first  perplexed  the  readers,  and  it  was 
gome  time  before  Lady  Nelson  had  discovered 
with  inexpressible  anguish  that  it  was  actually 
written   by  her  wounded  husband.      They  had 
heard  of  an  expedition  on  which  a  part  of  Lord 
St.  Vincent's  fleet  had  been  detached,  and  pain- 
ful rumours  had  prevailed:  neither  of  them  had 
resolution  to  read  it.     The  dreadful  change   in 
the  well  known  hand-writing  created  an  uncer- 
tainty, which  magnified  all  that  could  have  hap- 
pened.    At  last  Mrs.  Bolton,  who  was  on  a  visit 
to  her  Father,  at  his  request  disclosed  the  con- 
tents; she  was  sincerely  attached  to  her  brother, 
and  for  some  minutes  their  affectionate  sympathy 
rendered  them  insensible  to  the  joy  of  his  return. 
Whilst  they  were  alternately  expecting  and  de- 
spairing of  his  arrival,  Lady  Nelson  one  evening 
suddenly  distinguished  the  sound  of  her  husband's 
voice,  directing  his  carriage  where  to  stop.    The 
affectionate  mind  and  filial  regard   of  a  son  so 
long  absent,  were  rewarded  by  the  blessings  of 
an  aged  Father  and  by  the   tenderness  of  the 
faithful  partner  of  his  early  and  more  humble 
fortunes. 

(1797.)  A  Surgeon  of  the  name  of  Nicholls 


446 

• 

attended  Sir  Horatio  during  his  continuance  at 
Bath;  when  notwithstanding  the  pain  which 
he  experienced,  he  was  not  unmindful  of  those 
friends  whose  adoption  he  had  tried.  On  the  8th 
of  September  when  writing  to  Sir  Andrew  Ha- 
mond,  Bart,  at  Weymouth,  he  thus  delivered  his 
opinion  respecting  the  late  expedition  to  Tene- 
riffe.  "  My  dear  Sir  Andrew,  I  have  ever  been 
fully  sensible  that  you  have  spoken  of  my  ser- 
vices in  the  most  flattering  manner;  and  for  this 
last  mark  of  your  kindness,  I  cannot  sufficiently 
thank  you.  Success  covers  a  multitude  of  blun- 
ders, and  the  want  of  it  hides  the  greatest  gal- 
lantry and  good  conduct.  You  will  see  by  my 
Journal,  that  the  first  attack  on  the  21st  of  July, 
under  Troubridge,  completely  failed;  and  it  was 
the  25th,  before  it  could  be  again  attacked, 
which  gave  four  days  for  collecting  a  force  to 
oppose  us  ....  My  pride  suffered;  and  although 
I  felt  the  second  attack  as  a  forlorn  hope,  yet 
the  honour  of  our  Country  called  for  the  attack, 
and  that  I  should  command  it:  1  never  expected 
to  return,  and  am  thankful." 

On  the  20th  of  September,  1798,  he  had  the 
freedom  of  the  ancient  City  of  Bristol  trans- 
mitted to  him  by  Mr.  S.  Worral;  and  on  the 
22d,  a  letter  from  the  Heralds  Office  was  sent  to 
signify  his  Majesty's  gracious  intention  of  in- 
vesting him  with  the  Ensigns  of  the  most  Ho- 
nourable Order  of  the  Bath,  and  to  request  his 
attendance  at  St.  James's  for  that  purpose  on  the 


447 

27th.  The  honour  of  this  Order,  and  the  gra- 
cious manner  of  his  King  when  investing  him 
with  the  insignia  of  it,  made  a  lasting  impression 
on  the  mind  of  Nelson.  It  was  owing  to  the 
high  estimation  in  which  he  always  held  this 
badge  of  eminence,  that  he  afterwards  placed 
the  other  numerous  marks  of  distinction  he  had 
acquired,  round  the  star  of  the  Bath;  since  he 
uniformly  considered  that  as  the  centre  of  the 
whole  galaxy,  and  therefore  wore  it  the  nearest 
to  his  heart.  This,  however,  occasioning  an 
appearance  of  preference  to  some  foreign  Orders, 
that  were  necessarily  placed  by  this  arrangement 
above  that  of  the  Bath,  it  became  altered. 

(1797.)  Sir  Horatio  Nelson  to  Earl  St.  Vincent, 
dated  London,  Sept.  18. — "  My  dear  Lord,  I  shall 
be  brief  at  first.  I  had  a  very  miserable  passage 
home,  and  this  day  am  not  the  least  better  than 
when  I  left  good  Dr.  Weir;  and  Cruikshanks 
has  me  now  in  hand.  I  found  my  domestic  hap- 
piness perfect,  and  I  hope  time  will  bring  me 
about  again;  but  I  have  suffered  great  misery. 
My  general  reception  has  been  just  what  I  wish- 
ed, for  I  assure  you  they  never  forget  your  name 
in  their  honest  praises.  I  have  now  a  favour  to 
beg  of  you.  After  George  Cockburn's  gallant 
action  with  the  Sabina,  I  directed  a  gold  hiked 
sword  to  be  made  for  him,  which  I  had  hoped  to 
present  to  him  myself  in  the  most  public  and 
handsome  manner;  but  as  Providence  has  de- 
creed otherwise,  I  must  beg  of  you  to  present  it 


for  me.  My  gopd  friend  Grey  will,  I  hope,  in- 
quire and  get  it  out  of  the  Argo.  I  feel  confident 
of  your  goodness.  Good  Captain  Locker  has 
just  been  with  me,  and  made  the  most  kind  in- 
quiries after  you.  I  am  not  to  go  to  the  levee 
until  the  end  of  next  week.  Lady  Nelson  sends 
her  love.  God  bless  you." 

During  the  month  of  October,  whilst  he  con- 
tinued in  this  state  of  suffering,  at  the  lodgings 
of  a  Mr.  Jones  in  Bond  street,  Nelson  had  one 
night  retired  to  his  bed-room  after  a  clay  of  con- 
stant pain,  hoping  with  the  assistance  of  laudanum 
to  enjoy  a  little  rest;  when  the  exhilarating  news 
of  Admiral  Duncan's  Victory  threw  the  whole 
metropolis  into  an  uproar.  The  first  idea  that 
presented  itself  to  the  family,  was  an  alarm  of 
some  dreadful  fire.  The  mob  knocked  repeatedly 
and  violently  at  the  door,  as  the  house  had  not 
been  illuminated.  It  was  at  length  opened  by  a 
servant,  who  informed  them,  that  Sir  Horatio 
Nelson  who  had  been  so  badly  wounded  lodged 
there,  and  could  not  be  disturbed.  A  general 
interest  for  the  valuable  life  of  their  honoured 
Admiral,  for  an  instant  repressed  the  joy  which 
Duncan's  victory  had  occasioned:  "You  -will 
hear  no  more  from  us  to  night,"  exclaimed  the 
foremost  of  the  party;  and  that  universal  sym- 
pathy for  the  health  of  Nelson  which  pervaded 
even  the  minds  of  the  lowest  of  his  countrymen 
was  clearly  shewn,  no  subsequent  visit  being  paid 
by  the  n;ob,  notwithstanding  the  tumult  that  pre- 
vailed. 


(1797.)  As  soon  as  his  health  was  in  some 
degree  established,  Nelson,  with  that  devout 
sense  which  was  so  strongly  impressed  on  his 
mind,  went  to  the  clerk  of  St.  George's  church, 
and  left  with  him  the  following  "paper:  An  Officer 
desires  to  return  thanks  to  Almighty  G od  for  his 
perfect  recovery  from  a  severe  wound,  and  also  for 
the  many  mercies  bestowed  upon  him.  Dec.  8.  for 
the  next  Sunday.  It  was  the  13th  before  he  was 
pronounced  fit  for  service.  He  afterwards  at- 
tended in  the  procession  to  St.  Paul's  on  the  19th 
of  the  same  month,  when  our  religious  Monarch 
rendered  public  honour  to  the  Supreme  Being  for 
the  naval  victories  that  had  been  gained. 

Towards  the  close  of  1797,  Admiral  Nelson 
received  information  from  Lord  St.  Vincent 
that  he  had  written  to  Lord  Spencer,  and  had 
desired  that  the  Foudroyant  might  be  fitted  for 
Sir  Horatio's  flag  as  soon  as  she  was  launched ; 
his  Lordship  also  added  that  John  Sykes  was 
gunner  of  the  Andromache.  The  Foudroyant 
not  getting  so  forward  as  had  been  expected,  the 
Vanguard,  Dec.  the  19th,  was  commissioned  for 
his  flag;  and  on  the  10th  of  January,  1798,  Nel- 
son in  writing  to  Lord  St.  Vincent  from  Bath, 
informed  him,  that  the  Vanguard  was  rigged, 
had  her  ground  tier  on"  board,  and  nearly  400 
men.  "I  hope,"  added  he,  "to  be  with  you  early 

k  The  original  is  in  the  possession  of  the  Rev.  Mr.  Greville,  of 
St.  George's. 

2  G 


450 

in  March,  for  to  you  I  trust  I  am  going,  unless 
you  are  destined  for  the  Channel.  I  have  been 
much  flattered  by  the  kind  notice  of  Lord  Lans- 
down,  who  speaks  of  you  in  the  manner  you 
always  ought  to  be  spoken  of." 

III.  (1798.)  The  Vanguard  sailed  from  Black- 
stakes  to  the  Nore  early  in  March,  and  was  well 
officered.  In  addition  to  those  mentioned  by 
the  Rear  Admiral  in  his  letter,  Mr.  W.  S.  Par- 
kinson was  third  lieutenant,  Henry  Compton 
fourth,  J.  Adye  fifth,  Bladen  Capel  sixth; 
Captain  of  marines  W.  Faddy,  Lieutenants  of 
marines  Noble,  Young,  and  Hare;  Master  Mr. 
W.  Clod,  Chaplain  Rev.  Mr.  Comyn,  Purser 
Mr.  Sheppard,  Surgeon  Mr.  Jefferson,  and  Ad- 
miral's secretary  Mr.  J.Campbell.  Captain  Berry 
passed  the  Downs  in  the  ship  on  the  12th  of 
March,  and  proceeded  to  Portsmouth.  . 

In  taking  leave  of  that  domestic  happiness 
•which  had  proved  such  a  solace  to  his  mind,  a 
gloomy  foreboding  hung  on  the  spirits  of  his 
affectionate  wife,  which  Sir  Horatio  exerted  Jiim- 
self  to  disperse:  "My  ambition,"  he  exclaimed 
"  is  satisfied,  I  now  go  to  raise  you  to  that  rank 
in  which  I  have  long  wished  to  see  you." 

On  the  16th  of  March,  the  Rear  Ad- 
miral received  his  orders  to  hoist  his  flag  on 
board  the  Vanguard,  and  he  immediately  made 
every  preparation  to  join  his  ship.  On  the  28th 
he  left  London  for  Portsmouth,  and  on  the  Qth 
of  April,  after  an  ineffectual  attempt  to  get  to 


451 

sea  on  the  first,  as  lie  has  mentioned  in  his 
Memoir,  he  sailed  with  a  fair  wind  from  St. 
Helens.  When  the  Vanguard  had  joined  Earl 
St.  Vincent's  fleet  off  Cadiz,  Sir  Horatio  sent 
the  following  letter  to  Lady  Nelson.- — "I  joined 
the  fleet  yesterday,  and  found  Lord  St.  Vincent 
every  thing  I  wished  him;  and  his  friends  in 
England  have  done  me  justice  for  my  zeal  and 
affection  towards  him.  I  have  my  fears  that  he 
will  not  he  much  longer  in  this  command,  for  I 
believe  he  has  written  to  be  superseded,  which  I 
am  sincerely  sorry  for.  It  will  considerably 
take  from  my  pleasure  in  serving  here;  but  I 
will  hope  for  the  best.  The  Dons  have,  I  find, 
long  expected  my  return  with  bomb  vessels,  gun 
boats,  and  every  proper  implement  for  the  de- 
struction of  Cadiz  and  their  fleet.  They  have 
prepared  three  floating  batteries  to  lie  outside 
their  walls  to  prevent  their  fancied  attack;  and 
lo.  the  mountain  has  brought  forth  a  mouse;  I 

'  o  * 

am  arrived  with  a  single  ship,  and  without  the 
means  of  annoying  them. — The  Admiral  probably 
is  going  to  detach  me  with  a  small  Squadron,  not 
on  any  fighting  expedition;  therefore  do  not  be 
surprised  if  it  should  be  some  little  time  before 
you  hear  from  me  again.  I  direct  this  to  our 
Cottage,  where  I  hope  you  will  fix  yourself  in 
comfort,  and  I  pray  that  it  may  very  soon  please 
God  to  give  us  peace.  England  will  not  be  in- 
vaded this  summer.  Buonaparte  is  gone  back 

2  G  2 


452 

to  Italy,  where  80,000  men  are  embarking  for 
some  Expedition.     With  every  kind  wish  that 
a  fond  heart  can  frame,    believe  me,    as  ever, 
your  most  affectionate  husband." 
Earl  Spencer  to  Admiral  Earl  St.  Vincent,  dated 

March  30,  1798. 

l<My  Lord,  I  am  very  happy  to  send  you  Sir 
Horatio  Nelson  again,  not  only  because  I  believe 
I  cannot  send  you  a  more  zealous,  active,  and 
approved  Officer,  but  because  I  have  reason  to 
believe  that  his  being  under  your  command  will 
be  agreeable  to  your  wishes.  If  your  Lordship 
is  as  desirous  to  have  him  with  you,  as  he  is  to 
be  with  you,  I  am  sure  the  arrangement  must  be 
perfectly  satisfactory." — The  noble  Admiral  re- 
plied on  May  1,  "I  do  assure  your  Lordship, 
that  the  arrival  of  Admiral  Nelson  has  given 
me  new  life,  you  could  not  have  gratified  me 
more  than  in  sending  him;  his  presence  in  the 
Mediterranean  is  so  very  essential,  that  I  mean 
to  put  the  Orion  and  Alexander  under  his  com- 
mand, with  the  addition  of  three  or  four  frigates, 
and  to  send  him  away  the  moment  the  Vanguard 
has  delivered  her  water  to  the  inshoje  squadron, 
to  endeavour  to  ascertain  the  real  object  of  the 
preparations  making  by  the  French." 

In  consequence  of  the  information  which  Earl 
St.  Vincent  had  received  from  Naples,  he  on  the 
2d  of  May  ordered  Sir  Horatio  Nelson  to  Gibral- 
tar, as  soon  as  the  trade  bound  thither,  which 
,had  come  to  Lisbon  under  his  orders,  appeared 


453 

in  sight;  and,  placing  a  small  Squadron1  under 
his  command,  instructed  him  on  completing  his 
water  and  provisions  in  Rosier  Bay,  to  put  to 
sea  with  the  line  of  battle  ships  and  such  of  the 
frigates  as  happened  to  be  there,  and  when  all 
communication  with  the  garrison  had  closed,  to 
open  his  sealed  orders:  The  Rear  Admiral  was 
therein  ordered  to  proceed  up  the  Mediterranean, 
and  endeavour  to  ascertain  by  every  means  in 
his  power,  either  upon  the  coast  of  Provence  or 
Genoa,  the  object  of  the  projected  expedition  by 
the  French. 

(1798.)  After  his  Squadron  had  been  thus  de- 
tached, and  had  considerably  proceeded  on  the 
service  on  which  it  had  been  ordered,  Earl  St. 
Vincent,  on  the  ipth  of  May,  received  the  fol- 
lowing most  secret  instructions  from  the  Admi- 
ralty, dated  May  2.  In  the  first  place  the  noble 
Admiral  was  informed,  That  in  order  to  prevent 
the  fleet  and  armament  fitting  out  at  Toulon  from 
accomplishing  their  object,  Rear  Admiral  Sir  R. 
Curtis  had  been  ordered  to  proceed  with  a  rein- 
forcement, and  join  his  Lordship;  which  having 
taken  place,  the  Admiral  was  to  lose  no  time  in 

i  Squadron  to  ivhich  Admiral  Nelson  -was  appointed  May  2,  1798, 

ly  Ear  I  St.  Vincent. 

Vanguard,  Orion,  Alexander,  Caroline.,  Flora,  Emerald,  Terp- 
sichore, Bonne  Citoyenne. — Admiral  Nelson  had  requested  to 
have  the  Leander,  Captain  Thompson  j  but  Lord  St.  Vincent 
sent  word,  that  it  would  not  be  advisable  to  detach  that  ship 
from  the  rock. 


sending  a  squadron  consisting  of  twelve  sail  of 
the  line,  and  a  competent  number  of  frigates, 
under  the  command  of  Some  discreet  Flag  Officer, 
into  the  Mediterranean,  with  instructions  to  him 
to  proceed  in  quest  of  the  said  Armament.  The 
board  also  added,  that  they  had  received  on  that 
day,  May  2d,  a  letter  from  Lord  Grenville,  sig- 
nifying the  King's  pleasure,  That  any  Ports  in  the 
Mediterranean  should  be  considered  as  hostile,  those 
of  the  Island  of  Sardinia  alone  except  ed,  of  which 
the  governors  or  chief  magistrates  should  refuse  to 
permit  the,  Commanders  of  any  of  his  Majesty's  ships, 
arriving  therein,  to  procure  supplies  of  provisions, 
or  of  any  articles  wJiich  they  might  require. 

(1798.)  With  the  secret  Instructions  which  the 
Commander  in  Chief  had  thus  received  from 
home,  Lord  Spencer  had  also  sent  a  private 
and  confidential  letter  from  the  Admiralty,  dated 
April  £9,  respecting  the  appointment  of  Sir  H. 
Nelson  to  command  a  detached  squadron.  This 
communication,  which  was  received  also  on  the 
19th  of  May,  displays  the  great  abilities  of  the 
First  Lord  as  a  Statesman.  It  dwells  at  conside- 
rable length  on  the  late  proceedings  of  the  cabi- 
net, the  state  of  the  continent,  and  the  probable 
intentions  of  the  French  armament  at  Toulon. 
The  appearance  of  a  British  squadron  in  the 
Mediterranean,  was  declared  to  be  a  condition 
on  which  the  fate  of  Europe  at  that  moment  de- 
pended. Every  nerve  was  to  be  strained,  and 
considerable  hazard  incurred  in  effecting  it.  Yej; 


455 

Government  entirely  left  it  to  Lord  St.Vincent's 
determination,  either  to  make  a  detachment  from 
his  fleet,  or  to  take  his  whole  force  into  the  Me- 
diterranean; and  the  defeat  of  the  purpose  of 
the  Toulon  armament,  whatever  it  might  be,  was 
to  have  a  preference  to  the  great  advantages 
which  had  hitherto  been  obtained,  from  the  con- 
stant check  which  the  noble  Admiral  had  kept 
on  the  Spanish  fleet  in  Cadiz.  This  check  how- 
ever was  if  possible  to  be  continued;  and  it  was 
hoped  that  it  might  be  found  practicable,  to  send 
a  detachment  from  the  fleet  into  the  Mediter- 
ranean sufficiently  strong  to  attain  the  end  pro- 
posed. "If  you  determine,"  adds  Lord  Spencer, 
"  to  send  a  detachment  into  the  Mediterranean, 
I  think  it  almost  unnecessary  to  suggest  to  you 
the  propriety  of  putting  it  under  the  command 
of  Sir  H.  Nelson,  whose  acquaintance  with  that 
part  of  the  world,  as  well  as  his  activity,  and 
disposition,  seem  to  qualify  him  in  a  peculiar 
manner  for  that  service.  We  shall  take  care  to 
send  you  out  ships,  which  are  the  best  suited  for 
foreign  service  of  any  that  we  have  to  dispose 
of,  in  order  to  make  your  fleet  as  effective  as 
possible. 

The  noble  Admiral  lost  no  time  in  sending  the 
purport  of  these  Instructions  to  Sir  Horatio;  and 
directed  him,  After  ranging  the  coast  of  Pro- 
vence and  the  Western  Riviera  of  Genoa,  to 
leave  one  of  the  best  of  his  frigates,  and  the 
Bonne  Citoyenjae,  to  watch  the  motions  of  the 


456 

enemy;  whilst  he  himself  with  the  rest  of  the 
squadron,  having  taken  in  \rater  and  provisions 
for  six  months  at  Gibraltar,  should  proceed  with 
the  utmost  despatch  to  the  station  before  Cadiz. 
(1798.)  Owing  to  the  severe  weather  which 
Sir  Horatio  and  his  little  squadron  experienced, 
on  the  22d  of  May,  it  was  a  considerable  time 
before  these  additional  Instructions  reached  the 
Vanguard.  On  the  17th,  when  off  Cape  Sicie, 
Admiral  Nelson  sent  Lord  St.  Vincent  the  fol- 
lowing official  intelligence,  which  had  been  that 
morning  obtained  by  the  capture  of  la  Pierre, 
French  corvette  of  six  guns,  and  65  men,  that 
had  sailed  from  Toulon  on  the  preceding  night: 
"The  French  General,  Buonaparte,  arrived  at 
Toulon  ten  days  ago,  to  command  the  secret 
Expedition  preparing  to  sail  from  that  port.  Ves- 
sels with  troops  frequently  arrive  from  Marseilles, 
who  are  daily  embarking  in  the  numerous  trans- 
ports. According  to  some,  Buonaparte  was  ex- 
pected to  go  in  the  Sans  Culotte,  which  is  said 
to  have  3000  men  on  board,  including  her  com- 
plement. It  was  not,  however,  generally  believed 
that  Buonaparte  would  embark ;  but  no  one  knows 
to  what  place  the  Armament  is  destined.  Nine- 
teen sail  of  the  line  are  in  the  harbour,  and 
fifteen  apparently  fitted  for  sea:  yet  it  is  said, 
that  only  six  are  to  sail  with  the  transports  now 
ready,  and  that  about  12,000  men  are  embarked. 
Admiral  JBrueys  has  his  flag  in  L'Orient,  120 
guns.  You  will  see  by  Sir  James  Saumarez's 


457 

account,  that  they  have  cavalry  on  board."  In 
a. private  note  he  also  added,  Be  assured  I  will 
jight  the  French  fleet  the  moment  I  can  find  them; 
until  then  adieu. 

Such  had  been  the  high  spirit  and  exultation 
of  the  gallant  Admiral,  when  during  the  night 
of  the  20th  of  May,  being  in  the  Gulf  of  Lyons, 
his  whole  Squadron,  and  in  particular  the  Van- 
guard, was  exposed  to  the  fury  of  one  of  those 
sudden  tempests  in  the  Mediterranean  which 
Virgil  has  so  correctly  described.  The  piety  of 
Nelson  was  only  equalled  by  the  fortitude  and 
resources  which  he  displayed.  "I  ought  not," 
he  said  when  writing  to  Lady  Nelson  on  the 
24th  of  that  month,  "  to  call  what  has  happened 
to  the  Vanguard  by  the  cold  name  of  accident: 
I  believe  firmly,  that  it  was  the  Almighty's  good- 
ness to  check  my  consummate  Vanity.  I  hope  it 
has  made  me  a  better  Officer,  as  I  feel  confident 
it  has  made  me  a  better  man.  I  kiss  with  all 
humility  the  rod.  Figure  to  yourself  a  vain  man, 
on  Sunday  evening  at  sunset,  walking  in  his 
cabin  with  a  Squadron  about  him  who  looked  up 
to  their  Chief  to  lead  them  to  Glory;  and  in 
whom  this  Chief  placed  the  firmest  reliance,  that 
the  proudest  ships,  in  equal  numbers,  belonging 
to  France,  would  have  bowed  their  flags,  and 
with  a  very  rich  prize  lying  by  him;  figure  to 
yourself  this  proud  conceited  man,  when  the  sun 
rose  on  Monday  morning:  his  ship  dismasted, 
his  fleet  dispersed,  and  himself  in  such  distress 


458 

that  the  meanest  frigate  out  of  France  would 
have  been  a  very  unwelcome  guest.  But  it  has 
pleased  Almighty  God  to  bring  us  into  a  safe 
port  (St.  Peter's,  Sardinia,)  where  although  we 
are  refused  the  rights  of  humanity,  yet  the  Van- 
guard will  in  two  days  get  to  sea  again,  as  an 
English  man  of  war.  The  exertions  of  Sir  James 
Saumarez,  in  the  Orion,  and  Captain  A.  Ball,  in 
the  Alexander,  have  been  wonderful;  if  the  ship 
had  been  in  England,  months  would  have  been 
taken  to  send  her  to  sea:  here,  my  operations 
will  not  be  delayed  four  days,  and  I  shall  join 
the  rest  of  my  fleet  on  the  rendezvous." 

A  more  particular  account  of  the  distress  of 
the  squadron  in  the  Gulf  of  Lyons,  was  given  by 
Sir  Horatio  in  a  letter  to  Lord  St.  Vincent,  who 
in  his  answer  informed  the  Admiral,  that  he  con- 
sidered what  had  passed  as  a  most  providential 
event.  It  enabled  Nelson  not  only  to  complete 
a  supply  of  water,  and  to  secure  his  junction  with 
the  reinforcement  under  Captain  Troubridge, 
which  took  place  soon  afterwards;  but  it  also, 
in  a  most  extraordinary  manner,  preserved  his 
squadron  from  the  powerful  fleet  which  sailed 
with  Buonaparte  from  Toulon,  on  the  very  day 
of  the  tempest,  and,  in  the  thick  weather  that 
came  on,  must  have  passed  the  British  ships  at 
not  many  leagues  distance. 

In  a  former  letter,  Sir  Horatio  had  mentioned 
the  arrival  of  Buonaparte,  and  his  supposed  in- 
tentions at  Toulon;  and  it  may  be  of  service  to 


459 

tlie  reader  to  be  reminded  of  what  had  been  the 
proceedings  of  the  Corsican. — After  the  subju- 
gation of  Venice,  May  12,  and  the  Treaty  of 
Cam po  Form  io,  Oct.  17,  1797;  Buonaparte,  sati- 
ated for  a  time  with  plunder  and  the  disorgan- 
ization of  unhappy  Italy,  had  returned  to  Paris 
and  directed  his  thoughts  to  other  objects,  on 
which  his  own  restless  ambition  and  the  sharp- 
ened rapacity  of  his  soldiers  might  be  employed. 
Egypt,  even  during  the  French  monarchy,  had 
been  regarded  with  military  attention;  and  the 
invasion  of  it  as  an  out-post  to  India,  had  occu- 
pied the  minds  both  of  the  Empress  of  Russia, 
and  the  Emperor  Joseph.  In  the  k  letters  from 
the  French  army  that  were  afterwards  taken  by 
Admiral  Nelson's  squadron,  and  which  are  inva- 
luable for  giving  an  exact  account  of  the  real 
opinions  and  projects  of  our  enemies;  Kleber, 
in  writing  to  the  Directory,  delivered  the  real 
sentiments  of  his  nation  respecting  Egypt.  "  I 
know  all  the  importance  of  the  possession  of 
Egypt:  I  used  to  say  in  Europe,  that  this  Coun- 
try was  for  France  the  point  of  strength,  [le  point 
cTappui,]  by  means  of  which,  she  might  move  at 
«ill  the  Commercial  System  of  every  quarter  of 
the  Globe;  but  to  do  this  effectually  a  powerful 
lever  is  required,  and  that  lever  is  a  Navy.  Ours 

has  existed." 

i 

k  In  three  parts ;  the  first  published  in  1798,  the  second  in  1799, 
and  the  third  part  in  1800, 


460 

The  following  letters  continue  his  correspon- 
dence to  the  15th  of  June. — "May  31.  My 
dear  Lord,  My  pride  was  too  great  for  man; 
but  I  trust  my  friends  will  think  that  I  bore  my 
chastisement  like  a  man.  It  has  pleased  God  to 
assist  us  with  his  favour,  and  here  I  am  again  off 
Toulon. — June  1 1.  The  Mutine,  Captain  Hardy, 
joined  me  on  the  5th  at  daylight,  with  the  flat- 
tering account  of  the  honour  you  intended  me 
of  commanding  such  a  fleet." 

IV.  This  reinforcement  which  had  been  select- 
ed from  the  very  best  ships  of  Earl  St.  Vincent's 
Fleet,  consisted  of  the  Culloden,  74,  Captain  T. 
Troubridge;  Goliath,  74,  Captain  T.  Foley;  Mi- 
notaur, 74,  Captain  T.  Louis;  Defence,  ?4,  Cap- 
tain John  Peyton;  Bellero^hon,  74,  Captain  H. 
D.  E.  Darby;  Majestic,  74,  Captain  G.  B.  West- 
cott;  Zealous,  74,  Captain  S.  Hood;  Swifture, 
74,  Captain  B.  Hallowell;  Theseus,  74,  Captain 
R.  W.  Miller;  Audacious,  74,  Captain  Davidge 
Gould,  which  ship  joined  Captain  Troubridge  on 
his  entering  the  Mediterranean;  and  to  this  force 
was  afterwards  added,  the  Leander  50  guns, 
Captain  T.  B.  Thompson. 

(1798.)  On  the  joyful  intelligence  of  a  Squa- 
dron having  been  detached  from  Lord  St.  Vin- 
cent's fleet  into  the  Mediterranean,  Sir  William 
Hamilton,  who  had  not  then  heard  that  Nelson 
had  been  appointed  to  the  command,  had  sent 
the  following  letter  from  Naples  on  the  9th  of 
June,  on  board  the  Queen  Esther  privateer,  ad- 


461 
dressed  to  the  commanding  officer  of  the  King's 

•  o  o 

fleet  in  the  Mediterranean.  "Sir,  Lord  St. 
Vincent  will,  I  hope,  have  been  informed  by  my 
letter  of  the  15th  of  April  last,  of  the  distressed 
situation  of  this  Country.  I  have  just  received 
a  letter  from  Sir  Morton  Eden  at  Vienna  dated 
May  24th,  informing  me,  that  a  Treaty  of  De- 
fensive Alliance  between  the  Courts  of  Vienna, 
and  Naples  had  actually  been  signed;  and  that 
the  succours  respectively  stipulated,  are  60,000 
men  on  the  part  of  Vienna,  and  40,000  on  the 
part  of  Naples.  Sir  Morton  Eden  sends  me  also 
by  order  of  Lord  Grenville,  a  copy  of  a  despatch 
from  his  Lordship,  dated  April  28th;  in  which  I 
am  ordered,  as  well  as  Sir  Morton  Eden,  to  en- 
force the  absolute  necessity  of  obtaining  from 
this  Government,  the  free  and  unlimited  admission 
for  his  Majesty  s  Ships  into  the  Ports  of  his  Sicilian 
Majesty ;  and  also  every  species  of  provisions  and  sup- 
plies usually  afforded  to  an  Ally ;  and  which  his  Ma- 
jesty may  so  justly  expect  to  receive  from  Italy, 
when  cooperating  to  deliver  that  Country  from 
a  scene  of  Oppression  and  misery  which  it  has 
hardly  ever  experienced,  even  in  the  worst  pe- 
riods of  its  history.  I  am  at  this  moment  labour- 
ing with  the  Sicilian  Government,  but  have  nojt, 
as  yet,  got  a  decisive  answer  with  respect  to  the 
opening  of  their  ports,  without  reserve,  to  the 
King's  ships ;  but  1  have  already  had  the  strongest 
assurances,  that  no  species  of  Provisions,  or 
Stores,  which  this  Country  affords,  will  be  denied 


462 

them.  . . .  All  Italy,  Sir,  looks  upon  the  King's 
Fleet  you  have  the  honour  of  commanding,  as 
its  guardian  angel  from  the  ruin  with  which  it 

O  O 

has  been  so  long  menaced;  and  without  that 
protection,  sooner  or  later  it  must  fall.  Judge 
then  how  happy  we  shall  be  to  see  a  squadron  of 
the  King's  fleet  in  the  bay  of  Naples." 

(1798.)  On  the  1 6th  of  June,  the  Neapolitan 
Government  received  the  news,  That  the  English 
squadron  had  been  discovered  from  the  top  of 
the  Island  of  Ischia,  coming  from  the  westward. 
On  which  Sir  William  Hamilton  immediately 
sent  off  the  first  good  sailing  boat  he  could  pro- 
cure, with  all  the  intelligence  he  had  acquired 
respecting  the  enemy:  "That  the  first  division 
of  the  Toulon  Armament  had  arrived  offTrapani 
in  Sicily  on  the  5th  of  June,  and  had  been  there 
joined,  on  the  7th,  by  the  second  division,  making 
sixteen  sail  of  the  line,  Venetian  and  French: 
That  Buonaparte  was  on  board  the  Sans  Culotte; 
that  ten  frigates,  twenty  gun-boats,  some  brigs 
and  cutters  had  also  been  seen,  \vith  about  280 
transports,  said  to  contain  at  least  40, 000  troops. 
That  they  had  detached  a  frigate  near  the  Island 
of  Farignana,  Sicily,  on  which  an  officer  had 
landed  and  acquainted  the  Commandant,  that 
Buonaparte  had  desired  him  to  say,  The  approach 
of  the  French  fleet  need  not  give  any  uneasiness 
to  his  Sicilian  Majesty,  with  whom  the  Republic 
was  in  perfect  Peace,  and  that  the  Armament  lie 
commanded,  had  another  object,  not  Sicily.  The 


463 

French,  both  in  Sicily  and  in  Pantelleria,  made 
made  every  inquiry  after  a  British  squadron 
being  in  the  Mediterranean,  which  report  they 
did  not  believe.  Accounts  had  also  been  re- 
ceived, that  Buonaparte  was  off  Malta  with 
twenty  four  ships  of  the  line,  and  80,000  men. 
The  French  had  taken  a  Maltese  brig,  just  off 
the  Island;  the  Maltese  were  all  under  arms,  and 
preparing  for  a  vigorous  defence." 

On  the  return  of  Captain  Troubridge  who  had 
been  sent  into  Naples,  the  squadron  stood  for 
the  Faro  di  Messina,  and  passed  through  that 
celebrated  Strait  on  the  20th  of  June  with  a  fair 
wind. — On  the  same  day,  Sir  Horatio  sent  an 
express,  through  the  Vice  Consul  of  Messina, 
to  Sir  William  Hamilton,  who  returned  the  fol- 
lowing answer  on  the  26th. — "I  flatter  myself 
that  you  must  have  been  informed,  before  you 
passed  the  Faro,  that  Malta  had  been  treacher- 
ously given  up  to  the  French  Republic  on  the 
12th  instant;  but  perhaps  you  may  not  have  had 
a  copy  of  the  infamous  Convention  between  the 
Order  of  Malta,  and  the  Republic,  under  the  me- 
diation of  his  Catholic  Majesty,  and  therefore  I 
send  you  the  enclosed  copy  of  it.  .  .  All  our  pre- 
sent dependence  is  on  you,  my  dear  Nelson;  and 
I  am  convinced  that  what  is  in  the  power  of 
mortal  man  to  do,  you  will  do.  That  God  may 
protect  you,  and  the  brave  band  you  have  the 
honour  of  commanding,  in  so  just  a  Cause,  is 
the  constant  prayer  of  your  truly  attached  Wil- 
liam Hamilton." 


46'i 

On  the  27th  of  May,  Captain  Hope  with  the 
frigates,  which  had  been  separated  from  the 
squadron  in  the  tempest  of  the  22d,  arrived  in 
the  hay  of  Naples;  having  in  vain  endeavoured 
to  obtain  any  intelligence  of  Sir  H.  Nelson.  Cap- 
tain Hope,  having  received  every  assistance  from 
the  Neapolitan  Government  in  getting  in  his 
bread  and  water,  sailed  with  the  frigates  from 
Naples,  June  30th,  in  quest  of  the  Admiral,  and 
still  without  success.  He  was  also  afterwards 
followed  by  some  of  the  best  of  the  Portuguese 
ships  under  the  Marquis  de  Niza,  who  was  equally 
unfortunate. 

In  the  meanwhile,  Sir  Horatio  being  baffled 
by  the  departure  of  the  enemy  from  Malta  on 
the  16th,  from  executing  a  plan  which  he  had 
formed  for  attacking  them  whilst  at  anchor  at 
Goza,  immediately  on  receiving  such  intelli- 
gence from  the  Mutine  brig  on  the  22d,  had 
made  the  signal  to  bear  up,  and  steer  to  the  S.  E. 
with  all  possible  sail.  "At  this  time,"  adds  the 
Narrative  of  the  proceedings  of  his  squadron 
which  is  referred  to  by  him  in  his  Memoir,  "we 
had  no  certain  means  of  ascertaining  that  the 
enemy  were  not  bound  up  the  Adriatic.  From 
the  day  we  bore  up,  until  the  29th  of  June,  only 
three  vessels  were  spoken  with;  two  of  which 
came  from  Alexandria,  and  had  not  seen  any 
thing  of  the  enemy's  fleet;  the  other  came  from 
the  Archipelago,  and  had  likewise  seen  nothing 
of  them.  This  day  we  saw  the  Pharos  of  Alex- 


465 

andria,  and  continued  nearing  the  land  with  a 
press  of  sail,  until  we  had  a  distinct  view  of  both 
Harbours;  and  to  our  general  surprise  and  dis- 
appointment, we  saw  not  a  French  ship  in  either." 

That  no  time,  however,  might  be  lost,  he  im- 
mediately shaped  his  course  to  the  northward, 
for  the  coast  of  Caramania;  and  on  the  29th  whilst 
at  sea,  amidst  the  agitation  and  disappointment 
which  he  experienced  at  not  meeting  with  the 
Enemy,  sent  an  account  of  his  proceedings  and 
of  the  'motives  which  had  actuated  his  conduct, 
to  Earl  St.  Vincent. 

(1798.)  From  the  Coast  of  Caramania  which 
the  Squadron  made  on  the  4th  of  July,  they 
steered  along  the  southern  side  of  Candia,  carry- 
ing a  press  of  sail  both  night  and  day  with  a 
contrary  wind.  The  Admiral  endeavoured,  as 
he  informed  Lord  St.  Vincent,  to  keep  in  the 
opening  of  the  Archipelago,  in  latitude  between 
36  and  37  N.  steering  with  all  sail  to  the  west- 
ward. On  the  '18th  being  in  sight  of  Sicily,  and 
short  of  water,  he  determined  to  enter  the  port 
of  Syracuse;  and  although  no  person  was  ac- 
quainted with  the  harbour,  yet  by  the  skill  and 
judgment  of  the  officers  every  ship  arrived  safely, 
and  immediately  proceeded  to  get  in  water,  wine, 
lemons,  and  bullocks  with  all  possible  expedition. 
"This,"  adds  the  Journal  of  their  proceedings, 
"  was  the  first  opportuniry^that  the  Vanguard  had 

1  See  Quarto  Edit.  Vol.  II.  Page  66, 
2,H 


466 

enjoyed  of  receiving  water  on  board,  from  the 
6th  of  May;  so  that  not  only  the  stock  of  that 
ship,  but  of  several  others  of  the  squadron,  was 
very  nearly  exhausted."  Lest  any  impediments 
might  have  arisen  to  the  Admiral,  in  obtaining 
this  supply,  Mr.  Tough,  his  Britannic  Majesty's 
Consul  General  in  Sicily,  had  on  the  22d  of  June 
sent  Sir  Horatio  word,  "That  any  kind  of  re- 
freshments, or  provisions  which  the  fleet  might 
stand  in  heed  of,  he  could  readily  procure  at 
Palermo,  and  that  he  only  waited  for  the  honour 
of  his  commands."  The  port  of  Syracuse,  how- 
ever, at  this  time  offered  a  more  convenient  and 
ready  supply;  and  every  precaution  had  been 
taken,  which  the  exertions  of  our  Ambassador 
at  Naples  and  the  influence  of  Lady  Hamilton 
could  devise,  that  no  possibility  of  delay,  through 
the  secret  machinations  or  threats  of  the  French, 
might  unexpectedly  arise.  In  writing  to  Lady 
Nelson,  from  Syracuse,  July  20th,  he  said,  "I 
have  not  been  able  to  find  the  French  fleet  to  my 
great  mortification,  or  the  event  I  can  scarcely 
doubt.  We  have  been  off  Malta,  to  Alexandria 
in  Egypt,  Syria,  into  Asia,  and  are  returned  here 
without  success:  however  no  person  will  say  that 
it  has  been  for  want  of  activity.  I  yet  live  in 
hopes  of  meeting  these  fellows;  but  it  would 
have  been  my  delight  to  have  tried  Buonaparte 
on  a  wind,  for  he  commands  the  Fleet,  as  well  as 
the  Army.  Glory  is  my  object,  and  that  alone, 
God  Almighty  bless  you." 


(1798.)  On  the  25th  of  July,  he  sailed  from 
Syracuse:  Irritated  beyond  measure  that  the 
French  should  so  long  have  baffled  his  vigilance, 
it  was  with  difficulty  he  could  endure  the  tedious- 
ness  and  uncertainty  of  the  night;  and  the  officer 
of  the  watch  had  frequently  scarcely  left  the 
cabin,  when  he  was  again  summoned  to  declare 
the  hour,  and  to  surmount  the  persuasion  of  the 
Admiral  that  it  must  certainly  be  day-break. 

It  had  occurred  to  him,  on  leaving  Syracuse, 
that  some  authentic  intelligence  might  possibly 
be  obtained  in  the  Morea.  The  squadron,  there- 
fore, at  first  steered  for  that  coast,  and  made  the 
Gulf  of  Coron  on  the  28th  of  July.  Captain 
Troubridge  was  immediately  despatched  in  the 
Culloden  to  obtain  intelligence  from  the  Turkish 
Governor;  and  without  detaining  the  squadron 
returned  in  a  few  hours  with  a  French  brig  prize 
in  tow  and  with  information,  That  the  enemy 
had  been  seen  steering  to  the  S.  E.  from  Candia, 
about  four  weeks  before:  the  inhabitants  of 
Coron  entertained  the  most  serious  apprehen- 
sions from  the  French  Armament,  and  the  most 
perfect  detestation  against  that  "people.  During 
the  same  day  also  a  strange  sail  passing  through 
the  fleet,  was  examined  by  the  Alexander,  and 
further  intelligence  communicated  by  her  to  the 
Admiral.  Sir  Horatio  immediately  determined 
to  return  to  Alexandria,  and  the  English  squadron 

*"  Journal  of  the  Proceedings  of  the  Squadron. 
2  H  3 


468 

accordingly,  with  every  sail  set,  stood  again  fot 
the  coast  of  Egypt. 

The  confidence  which  prevailed  amongst  the 
French  was  consistent  with  their  character,  and 
with  the  preparations  which  had  been  made  to 
give  their  fleet  all  the  strength  and  ability  that 
the  Republic  and  its  Allies  could,  supply.  Gene- 
ral O'Hara,  Governor  of  Gibraltar,  in  writing 
thence  to  Admiral  Nelson,  June  15,  said,  "the 
French  are  very  sanguine  as  to  the  issue  of  this 
mighty  Armament,  which  they  say  has  been  so 
well  planned  that  all  Europe  is  to  be  astonished 
at  the  greatness  of  the  Enterprise;  but  I  trust 
my  dear  Sir  Horatio,  you  will  be  able  to  defeat 
all  their  mighty  purposes." — The  force  opposed 
to  this  armament  was  only  a  detachment  from 
one  of  the  numerous  squadrons,  by  which  Great 
Britain  supported  its  own  liberties,  and  endea- 
voured to  prevent  the  subjugation  of  other  pow- 
ers. This  detachment  had  been  a  considerable 
time  at  sea  in  pursuit  of  the  enemy,  and  many  of 
the  ships,  especially  the  Vanguard,  had  received 
only  a  temporary  refit  after  the  tempest  in  the 
Gulf  of  Lyons.  The  boasted  French  Armada  was 
fresh  from  the  dockyards  of  Toulon  and  Venice, 
and  had  experienced  no  disaster.  The  French 
vanity  was  also  cherished  and  augmented  by 
their  General,  who  was  destined  to  receive  a, 
lesson  in  Egypt,  that  ill  suited  his  overweening 
and  destructive  ambition.  The  Narrative  of 
their  proceedings,  from  July  the  1st  when  they 


469 

were  off  the  old  Port  of  Alexandria,  is  thus  given 
by  Admiral  Brueys,  in  a  "letter  to  Bruix  the 
French  Minister  of  the  Marine,  dated  on  board 
L'Orient,  July  12,  1798— "  Citizen  Minister: 
Previously  to  our  arrival  off  the  old  Port  of  Alex- 
andria, I  had  dispatched  the  Juno  to  bring  the 
Consul  on  board.  Citizen  Magallon  arrived  on 
the  first  of  July,  and  informed  us,  that  an  Eng- 
lish Squadron  had  appeared  in  line  of  battle  off 
the  Port  of  Alexandria  on  the  28th  of  June,  that 
they  had  detached  a  brig  to  the  town,  and  that, 
on  its  retun,  they  had  made  sail  to  the  N.  E.:  the 
squadron  was  supposed  to  consist  of  fourteen 
ships  of  the  line. . .  .The  Commander  in  Chief, 
Buonaparte,  desired  to  be  put  on  shore  imme- 
diately: I  therefore  came  to  anchor  on  the 
Coast,  and,  during  the  night,  succeeded  in  land- 
ing 6000  men  in  a  creek  to  the  west  of  the  old 
Port,  near  a  Castle  called  Marabou,  about  two 
leagues  from  the  City.  Not  the  slightest  oppo- 
sition was  made  to  our  descent.  I  disembarked 
all  the  troops,  and  the  baggage  belonging  to 
them;  and  on  the  7th  of- July,  having  satisfied 
myself  that  our  ships  of  war  could  not  get  into 
the  Port  for  want  of  a  sufficient  depth  of  water 
at  the  entrance,  I  ordered  the  Venetian  ships, 
(le  Dubois  and  le  Causse  of  64  guns  each,  and 

«  Intercepted  letters  of  the  French  Army  in  Egypt,  by  the 
Fleet  under  the  command  of  Sir  Horatio  Nelsoij.  Pa#  I.  page  40, 


470 

two  or  three  frigates,)  and  the  "transports  to 
come  to  an  anchor  there;  and  stood  off  with  the 
thirteen  sail  of  the  line  and  the  three  frigates, 
with  an  intent  of  mooring  in  the  road  of  Bc- 
quieres,  or  Aboukir. 

"  I  arrived  there  in  the  afternoon,  and  formed 
a  line  of  battle  at  two-thirds  of  a  cable's  length; 
the  headmost  vessel  being  as  close  as  possible  to 
a  Shoal  to  the  N.  W.  of  us,  and  the  prest  of  the 
fleet  forming  a  kind  of  curve  along  the  line  of 
deep  water,  so  as  not  to  be  turned,  by  any  means 
in  the  S.  W.  This  position  is  the  strongest  we 
could  possibly  take  in  an  open  road;  where  we 
cannot  approach  sufficiently  near  the  land  to  be 
protected  by  batteries,  and  where  the  enemy 
has  it  in  his  power  to  choose  his  own  distance. . . 
It  is  vexatious  that  there  is  not  a  Port  where  a 
Fleet  can  enter;  but  the  old  Port,  of  which  we 
have  heard  so  much,  is  shut  up  by  a  reef  of 
rocks,  some  under,  and  some  above  water;  form- 

0  According  to  a  letter  from  Jaubert  to  Bruix,  dated  on  board 
L'Orient,  July  4th,  the  Transports  from  Toulon,  Marseilles,, 
Genoa,  Ajaccio,  and  Civita  Vecchia,  amounted  to  2g3  sail: 
Another  letter  from  a  person  of  the  name  of Boyer  (page  148,) 
makes  them  400  sail,  under  convoy  of  fifteen  sail  of  the  line, 
two  of  which  were  armed  en  flute,  fourteen  frigates,  and  several 
smaller  ships  of  war. 

pLa  Fortune  corvette,  18  guns,  commanned  by  Citoyenne 
Marchand,  Enseigne  de  Vaisseau,  was  afterwards  detached  from 
the  fleet,  on  the  2Qth  of  July,  to  cruise  offDamietta;  and  was 
captured  on  the  10th  of  August  by  the  Swiftsure. 


471 

ing  a  number  of  narrow  channels,  where  the 
'depth  is  only  from  23  to  2.5.  and  30  feet.  The 
sea,  too,  is  commonly  very  high :  Thus  you  see, 
that  one  of  our  seventy-fours  would  be  in  no 
small  danger  there,  especially  as  she  would  inevi- 
tably go  to  pieces  in  a  few  minutes  after  touching 
the  ground. 

"To  gratify  the  wishes  of  the  Commander  in 
Chief,  Buonaparte,  I  have  offered  a  reward  of 
10,000  livres,  to  any  Pilot  of  the  Country  who 
would  undertake  to  carry  the  squadron  in;  but 
none  of  them  will  venture  to  take  charge  of  a 
single  vessel,  that  draws  more  than  twenty  feet. 
I  hope,  however,  that  we  shall  succeed  in  finding 
a  channel  by  which  our  seventy-fours  may  enter; 
but  this  can  only  be  the  result  of  many  laborious 
and  painful  experiments.  I  have  already  engaged 
two  intelligent  officers  in  this  business;  Captain 
Barre",  commanding  at  present  1'Alceste,  and  Ci- 
tizen Vidal  first  lieutenant.  If  they  find  a  chan- 
nel, they  will  buoy  it  for  us;  and  we  may  then 
enter  without  much  danger.  The  depth  within 
the  reefs  increases  to  fifteen  fathoms,  but  the 
getting  out  of  the  harbour  will,  in  all  cases,  be 
very  difficult  and  very  tedious,  so  that  a  squa* 
dron  would  engage  to  a  vast  disadvantage. 

"I  have  heard  nothing  further  of  the  English. 
They  are  gone,  perhaps,  to  look  for  us  on  the 
coast  of  Syria;  or  rather,  and  this  is  my  private 
opinion,  they  have  not  so  many  as  fourteen  sail 
of  the  line,  et  que  ne  se  trowvant  pas  en  nombre  su- 


472 

perietw,  its  n'auront  pas  juge  a-propos  de  se  mesurer 
avec  nous.'" 

Such  was  the  situation  and  state  of  mind  of 
the  French,  on  having-  eluded  the  vigilance  of 
the  British  Admiral,  and  made  good  their  landing 
in  Egypt.  In  the  meantime,  the  resolute  Nelson, 
and  his  select  band,  pursued  their  second  course 
to  Alexandria.  "The  fatal  intelligence,"  said 
Admiral  Ganteaume  in  writing  to  qBruix,  " re- 
ceived from  time  to  time  by  neutral  vessels,  an- 
nounced the  return  of  the  enemy's  squadron.  It 
had  been  seen  offCandia  steeringto  the  westward, 
which  unhappily  confirmed  us  in  the  opinion, 
that  it  had  no  orders  to  attack  us.  On  the  21st 
of  July,  however,  two  of  the  enemy's  "frigates 
reconnoitred  us."  "  On  the  1st  of  August,"  ac- 
cording to  the  Vanguard's  Journal,  "at  one  P.M. 
moderate  breezes,  aptj  clear:  the  wind  north. 
We  saw  Alexandria  bearing  S.  E.  seven  or  eighj; 
leagues.  At  a  quarter  past  two  recalled  the 
Alexander  and  Swiftsure,  who  had  been  detached 
the  preceding  evening  by  signal  on  the  look-out 
towards  Alexandria.  At  half  past  two  hauled  our 
wind,  unbent  the  best  bower,  took  it  out  of  the, 

q  Intercepted  letters,  Part  I.  page  21p. 

r  These  were  some  of  the  frigates  that  were  in  search  of  Shj 
Horatio  Nelson ;  and  whose  appearance  unfortunately,  just  at 
that  time,  alarmed  the  enemy,  and  induced  them  to  adopt  mea- 
sures of  precaution  and  security,  which  considerably  augmented 
the  difficulties  that  our  Admiral  had  to  surmount.  Had  these 
frigates  been  able  to  join,  not  a  ship  of  the  enemy  would  have 
escaped. 


473 

stern  port  and  bent  it  again.  At  four,  Pharaoh's 
Tower  S,  S.  W.  distant  four  or  five  leagues,  the 
Zealous,  Captain  S.  Hood,  made  the  signal  for 
the  French  fleet.  At  five  bore  up  for  the  enemy, 
sounding  in  15,  14,  13,  11,  and  10  fathom.'* 

The  only  plan  that  had  been  previously  ar- 
ranged in  case  they  found  the  Enemy  at  anchor, 
was  for  our  ships  to  form  as  most  convenient  for 
their  mutual  support,  and  to  anchor  by  the  stern. 
This  was  worthy  of  the  great  officers  who  com- 
manded in  the  Squadron,  and  shewed  the  confi- 
dence which  Nelson  placed  in  their  abilities. 
Captain  T.  Foley,  who  was  one  of  the  first  of  this 
select  band  of  Officers,  happened  to  lead  the  fleet 
in  the  Goliath.  He  had  always  kept  close  to  the 
Admiral  on  his  lee  bow,  and  rejoiced  to  find  him- 
self the  van  ship  on  such  a  day;  but  this  post  of 
honour,  was  for  a  few  minutes  disputed  with  him 
by  the  Zealous,  Captain  S.  Hood,  whose  abilities 
equally  merited  the  vproud  distinction:  Captain 
Foley  set  his  top-gallant  studding  sails  for  a  short 
time,  and  thus  preserved  his  situation  as  the  van 
ship. — It  had  long  been  a  favourite  idea  with  this 
officer,  which  he  had  mentioned  on  the  preceding 
evening  to  Captains  Troubridge,  and  Hood, 
That  a  considerable  advantage  would  arise,  if 
the  enemy's  fleet  were  found  moored  in  line  of 
battle  in  with  the  land,  to  lead  between  them 
and  the  shore,  as  the  French  guns  on  that  side 
were  not  likely  to  be  manned,  or  to  be  ready  for 
action. 


474 

On  the  Island  of  Bequieres,  the  French  had 
established  two  hatteries,  whence,  however,  they 
-were  unable  from  their  distance  to  do  any  injury. 
As  our  squadron  advanced,  they  opened  a  steady 
fire  from  the  starboard  side  of  their  whole  line, 
full  into  the  bows  of  our  van  ships.  The  silent 
progression  of  the  English  was  observed  by  their 
enemies  with  astonishment:  On  board  of  each 
ship  the  crew  was  employed  aloft  in  furling  sails, 
and  below  in  tending  the  braces,  and  in  hauling 
a  range  of  cable  on  deck  preparatory  to  their 
anchoring  by  the  stern.  At  twenty-eight  mi- 
nutes past  six,  P.  M.  the  French  hoisted  their 
colours. 

Captain  Foley  had  intended  to  fix  himself  on 
the  inner  bow  of  le  Guerrier:  he  kept  the  Go- 
liath, therefore,  as  near  the  edge  of  the  'bank  as 
the  depth  of  water  would  admit;  but  his  anchor 
hung  a  little,  and,  having  opened  a  tremendous 
fire,  he  drifted  to  the  second  ship  before  his  an- 
chor was  clear.  Then  bearing  up  he  shortened 
sail,  anchored  by  the  stern  inside  of  the  second 

•  A  rough  sketch  of  the  Bay  of  Aboukir  had  been  taken  out 
of  a  French  ship,  in  ballast  from  Alexandria  to  Rhodes,  by  Captain 
Hallowell,  and  given  by  him  a  few  days  previous  to  the  Ac- 
tion, to  Sir  H.  Nelson,  who  was  afterwards  wounded  in  looking 
over  it.  It  was  stained  with  his  blood;  and  he  afterwards  told 
one  of  his  Captains  that  he  had  sent  it,  as  that  officer  thinks,  to 
the  British  Museum.  This  was  examined  the  evening  before  the 
action  by  Captain  Foley,  who  was  the  only  officer  that  possessed, 
in  Bellin's  Collection,  any  Chart  of  Aboukir.  It  wa»  afterwards 
copied,  aud  given  to  most  of  the  squadron. 


of  the  enemy's  line,  le  Conquerant,  and  in  ten 
minutes  shot  away  her  masts.    The  Zealous,  Cap- 
tain S.  Hood,  observing  what  had  passed,   took 
the  station  which  the  Goliath  had  intended  to 
have,   and  anchored  by  her  stern  on  the  inside 
or  larboard  bow  of  le  Guerrier,  which  she  totally 
disabled  in  twelve  minutes.    The  third  ship  that 
doubled  the  enemy's  van  was  the  Orion,  Sir  James 
Saumarez,  which  passed  to  windward  of  the  Zea- 
lous, and  opened  her  larboard  guns,  as  long  as 
they  bore,   on  le  Guerrier;  then  passing  inside 
of  the  Goliath,  and  being  annoyed  by  a  frigate, 
the  Orion  yawed  as  much  as  enabled  her  to  sink 
this  opponent  by  a  tremendous  fire;  when  Sir 
James  Ijauled  round    towards  the  French  line, 
and  anchoring  inside  between  the  fifth  and  sixth 
ship  from  le  Guerrier,  took  his  station,  with  that 
gallantry  he  had  so  often  displayed,   on  the  lar- 
board bow  of  le  Franklin  and  the  quarter  of  le 
Peuple  Souverain,    receiving  and  returning  the 
fire  of  both.     The  sun  was  verging  to  the  hori- 
zon, when  the  Audacious,  Captain  Gould,  having 
poured  a  heavy  fire  into  le  Guerrier,  and  le  Con- 
querant as  she  passed  between  them,  fixed  herself 
on  the  larboard   bow   of  the  latter  'ship,    and 
afterwards  engaged  le  Peuple  Souverain.     The 
Theseus,   Captain  Miller,  followed;   and  going 

*  In  a  note  sent  during  the  battle,  on  board  the  Vanguard  by 
Captain  Gould,  dated  August  1,  he  said,  "  I  have  the  satisfaction 
to  tell  yeu  le  Conquerant  has  struck  to  the  Audacious:  the 
slaughter  on  board  her  is  dreadful." 


476 

between  the  Zealous  and  le  Guerrier,  barely  at 
sufficient  distance  to  avoid  being  entangled  with 
the  shattered  rigging,  poured  a  dreadful  broad- 
side into  her  bow,  and  brought  down  le  Guer- 
rier's  remaining  main,  and  mizeu  mast;  the 
Theseus  then  passed  on  the  outside  of  the  Go- 
liath, and  anchored  ahead  of  her,  inside  of  their 
third  ship,  le  Spartiate,  about  the  same  time  that 
the  Orion  had  got  well  into  her  station.  The 
fire  from  the  French  line  commenced  from  their 
second  ship  le  Conquerant;  then  followed  le 
Guerrier,  le  Spartiate,  1'Aquilon,  le  Peuple  S<m- 
verain,  and  le  Franklin:  "All  the  Van,"  added 
the  French  Admiral,  "were  attacked  on  both 
sides  by  the  Enemy,  who  ranged  close  along  our 
line.  They  had  each  an  anchor  out  astern,  which 
facilitated  their  motions  and  enabled  them  to 
place  their  ships  in  the  most  advantageous  po- 
sition." 

Anno  Whilst  the  advanced  officers  in  the 

British  squadron  were  thus  proving  them- 
selves worthy  of  that  experience  and  decision 
which  directed  the  whole,  the  Admiral  himself 
had  entered  into  action  with  the  remainder  of 
his  force;  and  was  the  first  ship  that  anchored 
on  the  outer  side  of  the  enemy,  within  half  pistol 
shot  of  le  Spartiate,  the  third  in  the  French  line 
of  battle.  The  original  plan  of  attack  which  he 
had  intended  to  have  adopted,  if  Captain  Foley 
had  not  judged  it  expedient  to  lead  within  the 
French  line,  was  to  have  kept  entirely  on  its. 


477 

outer  side;  and  to  have  stationed  his  ships,  as 
far  as  he  was  able,  one  on  the  outer  bow  and 
another  on  the  outer  quarter  of  each  of  the 
enemy.  This  would  have  certainly  produced  a 
most  destructive  fire,  and  would  have  caused 
our  shot  to  have  crossed  clear  of  our  own  ships. 
Owing  to  a  standing  order,  in  case  of  coming 
to  action,  the  squadron  wore  the  white  or  St. 
George's  ensign,  which  displayed  the  Cross;  and 
lest  through  any  random  shot  his  colours  should 
be  carried  away,  Admiral  Nelson  had  six  ensigns, 
or  flags,  flying  in  different  parts  of  his  rigging. 

The  Vanguard  having  thus  anchored  in  eight 
fathom  water,  without  the  third  ship  in  the 
enemy's  line,  at  half  past  six  o'clock  veered  half 
a  cable,  and  in  a  minute  opened  a  most  destruc- 
tive fire  so  as  to  cover  the  approach  of  the  other 
ships,  the  Minotaur,  Bellerophon,  Defence,  and 
Majestic,  which  respectively  passed  on  ahead  of 
their  Admiral.  Captain  Louis,  in  the  Minotaur, 
nobly  supported  his  friend  and  Commander,  and 
anchoring  next  ahead  of  the  Vanguard,  took  off 
the  fire  of  1'Aquilon,  the  fourth  in  the  French 
line.  The  Bellerophon,  Captain  Darby,  passed 
on  ahead,  and  dropped  her  stern  anchor  on  the 
starboard  bow  of  the  enormous  L'Orient,  the 
seventh  ship  in  the  enemy's  line;  whose  differ- 
ence of  force  was  above  seven  to  three,  and  the 
weight  of  ball  from  her  lower  deck  alone  ex- 
ceeded that  from  the  whole  broadside  of  the  Bel- 
lerophon. The  Defence,  Captain  Peyton,  took 


478 

liis  station  -with  great  judgment  ahead  of  the 
Minotaur,  and  engaged  le  Franklin  of  80  guns, 
the  sixth  ship  of  the  enemy  on  the  starboard 
bow,  by  which  the  line  remained  unbroken; 
which  sixth  ship  bore  the  flag  of  Admiral  Blan- 
quet  du  Chelard,  second  in  command.  The  Ma- 
jestic, Captain  Westcott,  after  being  entangled 
with  the  main  rigging  of  one  of  the  enemy's 
ships  astern  of  the  Admiral,  from  whom  she  se- 
verely suffered,  swung  clear;  and  closely  engag- 
ing 1'Heureux,  on  the  starboard  bow,  received 
also  the  fire  of  le  Tonnant,  the  enemy's  eighth 
ship,  which  soon  made  dreadful  havoc  on  board 
the  Majestic. 

The  remainder  of  the  Squadron,  the  Culloden, 
Alexander,  Swiftsure,  and  Leander,  in  the  next 
place  claim  our  attention.  Captain  Troubridge, 
who  had  been  detained  by  the  towing  of  the 
prize  which  he  had  taken  off  Coron,  had  obtained 
leave  by  signal,  when  two  leagues  to  the  east- 
ward of  the  Admiral,  to  cast  off  the  vessel.  Like 
the  rest  of  the  squadron  he  kept  constantly 
sounding  as  he  advanced;  but  he  was  so  much 
astern  of  them,  owing  to  the  above-mentioned 
cause,  that  when  our  van  ships  were  nearing  the 
French,  the  lower  deck  ports  of  the  Culloden 
were,  owing  to  her  distance,  what  seamen  term, 
just  out  of  the  water.  The  day  was  now  closing 
in,  which  added  considerably  to  his  difficulties; 
when  suddenly,  after  having  sounded  and  found 
eleven  fathom  water,  before  the  lead  could  again 


479 

be  hove,  the  Culloden  was  fast  aground  on  the 
tail  of  the  shoal  running  from  the  small  island  of 
Bequieres,  on  which  were  two  batteries  of  the 
•enemy;  notwithstanding  his  own  incessant  ex- 
ertions, with  those  of  Captain  Thompson  in  the 
Leander,  and  Captain  Hardy  in  the  M utine  brig, 
both  of  whom  immediately  came  to  his  assistance, 
the  Culloden  could  not  be  got  off  so  as  to  enter 
into  the  action.  The  sufferings  and  agitation  of 
Captain  Troubridge,  whose  presence  in  the  battle 
would  have  been  severely  felt  by  the  enemy, 
corresponded  with  his  determined  character  and 
zealous  disposition:  the  Culloden  did  not  get 
afloat  until  the  next  morning.  It  was  however 
some  satisfaction  to  the  mortified  spirit  of  her 
Captain,  that  his  ship  served  as  a  beacon  to  the 
Alexander,  Captain  A.  Ball,  and  the  Swiftsure, 
Captain  B.  Hallo  well;  which  from  having  been 
detached,  as  already  mentioned,  were  late  before 
they  could  get  into  action.  The  gallant  manner 
in  which  they  at  last  entered  the  bay  of  Aboukir 
and  took  their  stations,  notwithstanding  the  dark- 
ness that  prevailed  and  their  utter  ignorance  of 
the  situation  of  the  other  ships  of  their  squadron, 
is  still  spoken  of  with  admiration  by  their  bro- 
ther officers.  It  formed  a  most  brilliant  event 
in  the  battle  of  the  Nile.  It  was  eight  o'clock 

O 

before  they  reached  the  scene  of  action ;  when 
the  darkness,  which  was  only  interrupted  by  the 
flashing  of  the  guns,  rendered  it  extremely  diffi- 
cult to  distinguish  their  own  squadron.  The  pre- 


480 

caution  of  Nelson  had  indeed  directed  his  ships 
to  hoist  four  lights  horizontally  at  the  mizen 
peak  of  each,  as  soon  as  it  became  dark;  but 
when  the  Swiftsure  was  bearing  down  she  fell  in 
with  what  appeared  to  be  a  strange  sail.  Orders 
were  immediately  given  by  Captain  Hallowell 
not  to  fire,  as  her  disabled  state  would  prevent 
escape  if  an  enemy;  and  from  her  sails  being 
loose,  and  the  way  her  head  was,  it  seemed  pro- 
bable that  she  might  be  an  English  ship;  she 
afterwards  proved  to  be  the  overpowered  Belle- 
rophon,  whose  lights  had  gone  overboard  with 
her  mizen-mast.  Captain  Darby  had  been  him- 
self wounded,  two  of  his  lieutenants  were  killed, 
and  nearly  200  men  were  killed  or  wounded;  his 
remaining  mast  falling  soon  afterwards,  and  kill- 
ing another  of  his  lieutenants  with  several  officers 
and  men,  he  was  unable  to  regain  his  station. 
This  was  now  opportunely  occupied  by  the  Swift- 
sure,  and  at  a  most  critical  moment.  At  five 
minutes  past  eight,  "Captain  Hallowell  began  a 
steady  and  well  directed  fire  on  the  quarter  of 
le  Franklin,  and  the  bows  of  L'Orient;  and  at 
the  same  instant  the  Alexander  passed  under  the 
stern  of  the  French  Admiral,  and  anchored  with- 
jnside  on  his  larboard  quarter,  raking  him  and 
keeping  up  a  severe  fire  of  inusquetry  on  <his 
decks.  Admiral  Blanquet  in  his  account,  said, 
"At  eight  o'clock  at  night,  the  ship  which  was 

«  From  the  Voyage  up  the  Mediterranean  by  Mr.  Willyams, 
Chaplain  of  the  Swiftsure,  page  51. 


481 

engaging  L'Orient  on  the  starboard  quarter, 
notwithstanding  her  advantageous  position,  was 
dismasted,  and  so  roughly  treated  that  she  cut 
her  cables,  and  drove  rather  far  from  the  line; 
but  at  this  very  moment,  the  two  ships  that  had 
been  perceived  astern  of  the  Fleet  and  were  quite 
fresh,  steered  right  for  the 'centre:  the  Actipn 
in  this  part  then  became  extremely  .warm." — The 
last  ship  which  completed  the  fate  of  the  enemy, 
was  the  Leander.  Captain  Thompson,  finding 
that  nothing  could  that  night  be  done  to  get  off 
the  Culloden,  advanced  with  the  intention  of  an- 
choring athwart  hawse  of  L'Orient;  but  le  Frank- 
lin was  so  near  her  ahead,  that  there  was  not 
room  for  him  to  pass  clear  of  both.  He  then 
took,  with  much  judgment,  his  station  athwart 
hawse  of  le  Franklin;  for  as  that  ship  did  not  lie 
exactly  in  a  line  with  L'Orient,  but  rather  on 
her  starboard  bow,  he  had  the  power  of  raking 
both,  and  was  so  close  to  them,  that  the  fire  from 
the  Leander  was  very  destructive. 

At  length  1'Orient  struck  her  Colours,  and 
appeared  in  flames.  The  French  Admiral  had 
supported  the  honour  of  his  flag  with  undimi- 
nished  firmness:  he  had  previously  sustained 
three  desperate  wounds,  one  of  which  was  upon 
his  head,  yet  could  not  be  persuaded  to  quit  his 
station  on  the  arm-chest.  Admiral  Blanquet  in 
his  account  added,  "Admiral  de  Brueys  received 
a  shot  which  almost  cut  him  in  two;  he  desired 
not  to  be  carried  below,  but  to  be  left  to  die 

a  i 


482 

upon  deck:  he  survived  only  a  quarter  of  an 
hour.  Those  of  the  Etat  major  and  of  the  ship's 
company  of  L'Orient  who  had  escaped  death, 
convinced  of  the  impossibility  of  extinguishing 
the  fire  which  had  got  down  to  the  middle  gun- 
deck,  endeavoured  to  save  themselves.  Com- 
modore Casa  Bianca  and  his  son  only  ten  years 
old,  who  during  the  action  gave  proofs  of  bra- 
very and  intelligence  far  .above  his  age,  were  not 
so  fortunate:  they  were  for  a  time  seen  in  the 
water  on  the  wreck  of  L'Orient's  mast,  not  being 
able  to  swim,  seeking  each  other  until  three 
quarters  past  ten,  when  the  ship  blew  up  and 
put  an  end  to  their  hopes  and  fears.  Le  Frank- 
lin's decks  were  covered  with  red  hot  irons,  pieces 
of  timber  and  rope  on  fire.  This  ship  was  on  fire 
the  fourth  time,  but  providentially  got  it  under. 
Immediately  after  the  explosion  of  L'Orient  the 
Battle  every  where  ceased,  and  was  succeeded 
by  a  most  profound  silence.  The  sky  was  ob- 
scured by  thick  clouds  of  black  smoke  which 
seemed  to  threaten  the  destruction  of  the  two 
fleets.  It  was  a  quarter  of  an  hour  hefore  the 
crews  recovered  from  the  kind  of  stupor  they  were 
thrown  into." — Nor  did  the  renowned  flag  of 
Nelson  triumph  without  its  share  of  peril:  Sir 
Horatio  himself  was  dreadfully  wounded,  and  as 
it  was  for  a  time  thought  mortally  in  the  head. 
Seven  of  the  bow  guns. of  the  Vanguard  had  been 
three  times  cleared,  and  one  repeatedly,  of  the 
inen  stationed  at  them,  who  were  either  dead,  or 


483 

desperately  wounded.  The  brave  Captain  Faddy 
of  the  marines  fell  with  many  of  his  men:  the 
decks  of  the  Vanguard  streamed  with  blood. 
Twenty-seven  of  her  crew  were  killed,  and  sixty- 
eight  wounded. 

During  the  heat  of  the  Battle,  and  wlren  Nel- 
son had  received  his  severe  wound  in  the  head 
from  a  piece  of  langridge  shot,  some  circum- 
stances occurred  which  marked  his  character  and 
disposition.  Oil  being  wounded,  he  had  been 
assisted  in  going  below;  where,  desiring  that  he 
might  wait  until  his  turn  came,  it  was  some  time 
before  he  was  discovered  by  the  surgeon.  The 
pain  was  intense,  and  Nelson  felt  convinced  that 
his  wound  was  mortal.  A  large  piece  of  the  skin 
of  his  forehead  which  had  been  cut  to  the  bone, 
hung  down  over  his  eye,  and  not  having  any 
sight  from  the  other  he  was  left  perfectly  blind. 
Mr.  Jefferson  assured  him,  on  probing  the  wound, 
that  there  was  no  immediate  danger.  He  would 
not,  however,  indulge  any  hope;  and  having  de- 
sired Mr.Comyn  his  chaplain  to  convey  his  dying 
remembrance  to  Lady  Nelson,  he  ordered  the 
Minotaur  to  be  hailed,  that  he  might  thank  her 
l}rave  and  gallant  Captain,  Louis,  for  coming  up 
so  nobly  to  the  support  of  the  Vanguard:  The 
interview  affected  all  who  beheld  it.  After  the 
dreadful  explosion  of  L'Orient  he  was  persuaded, 
though  with  some  difficulty,  to  go  to  bed;  but 
still  continuing  restless,  he  got  up  and  signet- 
Captain  T.  M.  Hardy's  commission  for  the  Van- 


484 

guard,  as  Captain  Berry  was  to  go  home  with 
the  despatches,  and  Captain  Cupel's  for  the 
Mutine. 

Such  is  the  general  outline  of  the  memorable 
events  which  took  place  on  the  first  and  second 
of  August  1798;  which,  to  use  Admiral  Blan- 
quet's  words,  "will  ever  be  remembered  with 
the  deepest  sorrow  by  those  Frenchmen  who 
possess  good  hearts." — Victory,  said  Nelson  in 
one  of  his  letters,  is  certainly  not  a  name  strong 
enough  for  such  a  Scene  as  I  have  passed:  he  there- 
fore justly  styled  it  a  conquest;  in  which,  ac- 
cording to  the  comparative  force  of  the  English, 
and  French,  drawn  up  by  his  order,  the  latter 
had  a  superiority  of  184  guns,  and  of  3, 162  men. 
Of  these,  after  the  Action,  5,225,  were  killed, 
drowned,  burnt,  or  missing.  It  should  also  be 
remembered,  that  their  squadron  was  anchored 
in  a  strong  and  compact  line  of  battle,  describing 
an  obtuse  angle,  defended  by  every  means  which 
the  ingenuity  of  the  first  engineers  in  Europe 
could  devise;  flanked  with  gun  boats,  mortar 
vessels,  and  four  large  frigates,  with  a  battery 
of  guns  and  mortars  at  the  entrance  of  the  bay; 
and  the  whole  manned  by  soldiers  and  seamen 
who  had  undergone  no  previous  fatigue,  and  had 
remained  nearly  a  month  at  anchor.  Yet  not- 
withstanding this  vast  superiority  and  these 
advantages,  their  boasted  Armada  was  nearly 
Destroyed  or  captured ;  and  had  not  Sir  Horatio 
been  so  severely  wounded,  it  was  generally 


485 

thought  by  his  Captains,  that  every  ship  of  the 
Enemy  would  have  been  taken.  On  board  the 
English  squadron,  16  officers,  156  seamen,  and 
46  marines, were  killed;  and  37  officers,  562  sea- 
men, and  78  marines  were  x  wounded.  The  brave 
Captain  Westcott  fell  amongst  those  who  on  this 
occasion  gave  their  lives  for  their  Country.  In 
addition  to  the  ships  that  were  destroyed  during 
the  Action,  there  remained  afterwards  in  our 
possession,  two  ships  of  eighty  guns,  le  Franklin 
and  le  Tonnant,  seven  Seventy-fours,  and  la  For- 
tune of  eighteen  guns. — The  following  thanks 
addressed  to  the  Captains,  were  issued  by  Sir 
Horatio  Nelson,  August  2d,  off  the  mouth  of  the 
Nile.  "The  Admiral  most  heartily  congratulates 
the  Captains,  Officers,  Seamen,  and  Marines  of 
the  Squadron  he  has  the  honour  to  command,  on 
the  event  of  the  late  Action;  and  he  desires  they 
will  accept  his  most  sincere  and  cordial  Thanks 
for  their  very  gallant  behaviour  in  this  glorious 
Battle.  It  must  strike  forcibly  every  British 
Seaman,  how  superior  their  conduct  is  when  in 
discipline  and  good  order,  to  the  riotous  beha- 
viour of  lawless  Frenchmen.  The  Squadron  may 
be  assured  the  Admiral  will  not  fail,  with  his 
despatches,  to  represent  their  truly  meritorious 
conduct,  in  the  strongest  terms  to  the  Comman- 
der in  Chief." 
(1798.)  On  Friday  morning,  August  3d.  the 

*  See  the  returns  subjoined  to  the  Gazette  letter,  Appendis 
N°2. 


486 

French  flag  was  still  observed  to  be  flying  on  the 
stump  of  le  Tonnant's  main  mast.  The  Admiral 
immediately  made  the  Theseus'  and  Leander's 
signal  to  attack  her.  At  their  approach  a  flag 
of  truce  was  hoisted,  and  on  an  officer's  being 
sent  from  the  Theseus,  the  colours  were  struck. 
The  well  known  letter  that  Sir  Horatio  sent  to 
Earl  St.  Vincent,  which  had  been  begun  under 
the  immediate  impression  of  approaching  ydeath, 
amidst  the  dreadful  scene  of  devastation  which 
the  surrounding  ocean  continued  for  days  to  dis- 
play, was  worthy  of  his  devout  sense  of  God's 
over-ruling  providence,  which  has  so  constantly 
appeared  in  his  great  and  extraordinary  cha- 
racter. 

"Almighty  God  has  blessed  his  Majesty's  arms 
in  the  late  battle,  by  a  great  victory  over  the 
fleet  of  the  Enemy,  whom  I  attacked  at  sunset 
on  the  first  of  August,  off  the  mouth  of  the  Nile. 

J  See  Quarto  Edit.  Vol.  II.  page  84.  In  this,  as  well  as  in 
many  other  respects,  a  resemblance. may  be  traced  between  the 
Admirals  Blake  and  Nelson.  Dr.  Johnson,  in  describing  the 
victory  of  the  former  over  the  Dutch,  May  18,  ]652,  when  the 
Vanguard  also  greatly  distinguished  herself,  adds,  "  Blake,  in  his 
letter  Acknowledged  the  particular  blessing  and  preservation  of 
God,  and  ascribed  his  success  to  the  justice  of  the  cause." — Ad- 
miral Rodney's  official  letter  respecting  the  victory  of  the  12th  of 
April  began  with  the  same  devout  spirit,  which  appears  in  that 
from  Sir  Horatio  Nelson.  Formidable  at  sea,  April  14,  1 7&2.  "It 
has  pleased  God,  out  of  his  divine  providence,  to  grant  to  hit 
Majesty's  arms  a  most  complete  victory  over  the  fleet  of  th^ 
Enemy," 


487 


The  Enemy  were  moored  in  a  strong  line  of 
tie  for  defending  the  entrance  of  this  Bay  (of 
shoals),   flanked   by  numerous  gun  boats,    four 
frigates,   and  a  battery  of  guns  and  mortars  on 
an  island  in  their  V7an;  but  nothing  could  with- 
stand the  squadron  your  Lordship  did  me  the 
honour  to  place  under  my  command.   Their  high 
state  of  discipline  is  well  known  to  you,  and  with 
the  judgment  of  the   Captains,    together   with 
their  valour,  and  that  of  the  officers  and  men  of 
every  description,   it  was  absolutely  irresistible. 
Could  any  thing  from  my  pen  add  to  the  cha- 
racter of  the  Captains  I  would  write  it  with  plea- 
sure, but  that  is  impossible.     I  have  to  regret  the 
loss  of  Captain  Westcott  of  the  Majestic  who 
was  killed  early  in  the  action,   but  the  ship  was 
continued  to  be  so  well  fought  by  her  first  lieu- 
tenant Mr.  Cuthbert,  that  I  have  given  him  an 
order  to  command  her  till  your  Lordship's  plea- 
sure is  known.     The  ships  of  the  Enemy,  all  but 
their  two  rear  ships,   are  nearly  dismasted;  and 
those  two,  with  two  frigates,   I  am  sorry  to  say 
made  their  escape,   nor  was  it  I  assure  you  in 
my  power  to  prevent  them.     Captain  Hood  most 
handsomely  endeavoured  to  do  it,  but  I  had  no 
ship  in  a  condition  to  support  the  Zealous,  and 
I  was  obliged  to  call  her  in.     The  support  and 
assistance  I  have  received  from   Captain  Berry, 
cannot  be  sufficiently  expressed.    I  was  wounded 
in  the  head,  and  obliged  to  be  carried  off  the 
deck,  but  the  service  suffered  no  loss  by  the 


488 

event:  Captain  Berry  was  fully  equal  to  the  im- 
portant service  then  going  on,  and  to  him  I  must 
beg  leave  to  refer  for  every  information  relative 
to  the  vjctory;  he  will  present  you  with  the  flag 
of  the  second  in  command,  that  of  the  Comman- 
der in  Chief  being  burnt  in  L'Orient:  herewith 
I  transmit  you  lists  of  the  killed  and  wounded, 
and  the  zline  of  battle  of  ourselves  and  the 
French/' 

On  the  same  day,  August  3,  the  following 
most  honourable  testimony  of  professional  gra- 
titude and  esteem,  was  drawn  up  on  board  the 
Orion,  and  signed  by  all  the  Captains.  "The 
Captains  of  the  Squadron  under  the  orders  of 
Rear  Admiral  Nelson,  K.  B.  desirous  of  testifying 
the  high  sense  they  entertain  of  his  prompt  de- 
cision and  intrepid  conduct  in  the  attack  of  the 
French  fleet,  .in  Bequieres  Road,  off  the  Nile, 
August  the  1st,  1798,  request  his  acceptance  of 
a,  Sword;  and  as  a  further  proof  of  their  esteem 
and  regard,  hope  that  he  will  permit  his  portrait 
to  be  taken,  and  hung  up  in  the  room  belonging 
to  the  Egyptian  "Club,  now  established  in  com- 
memoration of  that  glorious  day." — In  the  first 
interview  which  Nelson  had  with  his  early  ship- 
mate and  friend,  Captain  Troubridge,  after  the 
Action,  he  thus  endeavoured  to  cheer  the  mor- 
tified spirit  of  that  great  and  intrepid  officer: 
"Let  us,  my  dear  Troubridge,  rather  rejoice 

2  See  Appendix  No.  2. 


489 

that  the  Ship  which  got  on  shore  was  commanded 
by  an  officer,  whose  character  is  so  thoroughly 
established  in  the  service  as  your  own/' 

On  the  5th  of  August,  as  soon  as  a  ship  could 
be  made  sufficiently  sea-worthy  for  the  voyage, 
Sir  Horatio  NTelson  despatched  Captain  Berry  in 
the  Leander,  with  letters  to  Lord  St. Vincent; 
and  Captain  Hardy  of  the  Mutine  brig  succeeded 
to  the  command  of  the  Vanguard.  On  the  13th 
of  August  Sir  James  Saumarez  left  the  squadron 
with  the  prizes,  and  on  the  same  day  the  Mutine, 
Hon.  Captain 'T.  B.  Capel,  sailed  to  Naples  with 
a  duplicate  of  the  Admiral's  despatches,  and  with 
letters  to  Lord  Spencer,  the  Hon.  H.  Dundas, 
President  of  the  Board  of  Control  for  India,  and 
to  the  Lord  Mayor.  From  Naples  Captain  Capel 
proceeded  overland  to  England. 

Admiral  Sir  H.  Nelson,  K.  B.  to  the  Right 
Honourable  the  Lord  Mayor. 

"My  Lord:  Having  the  honour  of  being  a 
Freeman  of  the  City  of  London,  I  take  the  li- 
berty of  sending  to  your  Lordship  the  Sword  of 
the  commanding  French  Admiral,  Monsieur  Blan- 
quet,  who  survived  after  the  Battle  of  the  first 
off  the  Nile;  and  I  request  that  the  City  of  Lon- 
don will  honour  me  by  the  acceptance  of  it,  as  a 
remembrance,  That  Britannia  still  rules  the  Waves: 
which  she  may  ever  do,  is  the  fervent  prayer  of 
your  Lordship's  obedient  servant." 

(1798.)  In  a  letter  to  his  Excellency  the  Hon. 
W,  Wyndham  at  Florence,  dated  August  21,  Sir 


490 

Horatio  had  said,  That  on  account  of  his  indif- 
ferent health  and  wound,  he  thought  of  £oin«>- 

7  O  O  o 

down  the  Mediterranean  as  soon  as  he  arrived  at 
Naples,  unless  he  should  find  any  thing  very  ex- 
traordinary to  detain  him;  and  this  determina- 
tion had  heen  strongly  impressed  on  his  mind  by 
some  of  his  friends,  who  dreaded  the  effect  which 
his  going  into  winter  quarters  at  Naples,  might 
have  on  a  mind  by  no  means  adapted  to  cope 
with  the  flattery  of  the  Sicilian  Court. 

(1798.)  The  first  congratulatory  communica- 
tion which  Sir  Horatio  Nelson  received,  was  from 
the  Grand  Seignior,  dated  August  $J4;  the  fol- 
lowing translation  of  which  was  certified  by  Mr. 
J.  S.  Smith,  who  had  succeeded  Mr.  Jackson  at 
the  Ottoman  Porte.  "Certain  intelligence  being 
arrived,  (August  23d,)  from  Rhodes,  of  the  Eng- 
lish squadron  in  the  Mediterranean  having  di- 
rected its  course  to  the  Egyptian  coast,  and  of 
its  having  attacked  the  French  fleet  which  was 
riding  at  anchor  before  Eboukhor,  on  the  farther 
side  of  Alexandria,  where  it  burnt  the  Admiral's 
ship  L'Orient,  sunk  several  others,  and  was  oc- 
cupied in  destroying  the  rest;  this  joyful  advice 
has  not  failed  giving  the  Sublime  Porte  the 
highest  satisfaction.  In  expressing  thus  her  com- 
plete approbation  and  pleasure  at  the  English 
Commander's  brave  and  gallant  behaviour  on 
this  occasion,  the  Sublime  Porte  entertains  hopes 
that  the  English  squadron  once  united  with  the 
Ottoman  fleet,  many  desirable  advantages  might 


491 

be  reaped  from  their  junction;  and  that  such 
future  measures  would  be  adopted  and  pursued, 
as  should  doubly  lead  to  increase  the  ancient 
good  intelligence  and  amity,  subsisting  between 
the  Sublime  Porte,  and  the  Court  of  Great  Bri- 
tain. The  esteemed  English  Minister,  our  friend, 
is  therefore  requested  in  the  name  of  the  Sublime 
Porte  to  signify  the  same,  both  to  his  Court,  and 
to  the  English  Commander  before  named." 

On  receiving  an  official  confirmation  of  this 
decisive  victory,  August  29,   the  following  com- 
munication from  the  Grand  Seignior  was  made 
to  Mr.  Smith,  Sept.  the  8th.      "  It  is  but  lately, 
that  by  a  written  communication  it  has  been 
made  known,   how  much  the  Sublime  Porte  re- 
joiced at  the  first  advice  received  of  the  English 
squadron  in  the  White  Sea  having  defeated  the 
French  off  Alexandria  in  Egypt.     By  recent  ac- 
counts comprehending  a  specific   detail   of  the 
Action,  it  appears  now  more  positive,  that  his  Bri- 
tannic Majesty's  fleet  has  actually  destroyed  by 
that  Action  the  best  ships  the  French  had  in  their 
possession.     This  joyful  event,  therefore;  laying 
this  Empire  under  an  obligation,  and  the  service 
rendered  by  our  much  esteemed  friend  Admiral 
Nelson  on  this  occasion,  being  of  a  nature  to  call 
for  public  acknowledgment,   his  Imperial  Ma- 
jesty, the  Powerful,  Formidable,  and  Most  Mag- 
nificent Grand  Seignior  has  destined  as  a  present 
in  his  Imperial  Name  to  the  said  Admiral,   a 
Piamond  Aigrette,  (Chelengk),  and  a  Sable  Fur 


492 

with  broad  sleeves;  besides  2000  zequins,  to  be 
distributed  amongst  the  wounded  of  his  crew. 
And  as  the  English  Minister  is  constantly  zea- 
lous to  contribute  by  his  endeavours,  to  the  in- 
crease of  friendship  between  the  two  Courts,  it 
is  hoped  he  will  not  fail  to  make  known  this 
circumstance  to  his  Court,  and  to  solicit  the  per- 
mission of  the  Powerful  and  Most  August  King 
of  England,  for  the  said  Admiral  to  put  on  and 
wear  the  said  Aigrette  and  Felice." — It  was  on 
this  occasion,  that  Mr.  Smith  suggested  to  the 
Minister  of  the  Grand  Seignior  the  propriety  of 
establishing  an  Order,  to  be  styled  The  Order 
of  the  Crescent;  and  of  making  Sir  Horatio  Nel- 
son the  first  Knight  Companion  of  it;  and  also 
to  have  medals  of  the  Order  struck,  to  be  given 
and  worn  by  subordinate  officers:  both  of  which 
were  done  by  the  OttomaitjjPorte. 

On  the  26th  of  August,  Captain  Hood  informed 
Sir  Horatio,  that  Captain  Halloweli  had  seized  a 
polacre  ship,  under  Greek  colours  with  a  French 
pass,  going  from  the  old  to  the  new  port  of 
Alexandria,  which  he  had  burnt;  and  that  Cap- 
tain Hope,  of  the  Alcmene,  had  captured  the 
Leger  express  boat  with  despatches  from  Gene- 
ral Buonaparte,  which  were  saved  as  they  were 
sinking,  owing  to  the  alertness  of  two  seamen  at 
the  hazard  of  their  lives.  When  a  French  officer 
came  off  from  Alexandria  requesting  that  all  pri- 
vate letters  might  be  sent  on  shore,  Captain 
Hood  had  given  them,  instead,  a  copy  of  the 


493 

Decree  of  the  Executive  Directory,  ordering  all 
letters  found  on  board  Enemy's  ships  to  be  for- 
warded to  them. 

Captain  Capel  on  his  arrival  in  the  Mutine 
at  Naples  immediately  wrote  to  the  Admiral. 
""I  am  totally  unable,  Sir,  to  express  the  joy  that 
appeared  in  every  countenance,  and  the  bursts 
of  applause  and  acclamations  we  received.  The 
Queen  and  Lady  Hamilton  fainted :  in  short, 
Sir,  they  all  hail  you  as  the  saviour  of  Europe. 
A  courier  sets  off  to-morrow  for  Vienna,  and  I 
shall  accompany  him. — On  the  28th  of  August, 
in  latitude  37°  45'  longitude  16°  50',  I  fell 'in  with 
two  line  of  battle  ships,  one  under  three  jury  top 
masts,  the  second  had  a  jury  mizen  top  mast,  ha- 
ving the  other  ship  in  tow.  I  passed  so  close, 
as  to  make  their  hulls  out  distinctly.  I  also 
shewed  them  French  colours,  which  they  an- 
swered by  the  same;  and  I  have  not  the  smallest 
doubt"  from  those  circumstances,  and  the  perfect 
recollection  I  have  of  le  Guillaume  Tell,  .and  le 
Genereux,  that  it  was  those  ships;  they  were 
steering  to  the  N.  E.  apparently  for  Corfu.  The 
two  frigates  had  parted,  the  wind  was  then 
against  them.  Captain  Hoste  will  be  ready  to 
sail  again  in  a  few  days." 

(1798.)  Sir  Horatio,  in  a  letter  to  Lady  Nel- 
son, dated  at  sea,  Sept.  16,  described  the  exulta- 
tion of  the  Queen  of  Naples.  "The  kingdom 
of  the  two  Sicilies  is  mad  with  joy;  from  the 
Throne  to  the  peasant  all  are  alike.  According 


494 

to  Lady  Hamilton's  letter,  the  situation  of  the 
Queen  was  truly  pitiable:  I  only  hope  I  shall 
not  have  to  be  witness  to  a  renewal  of  it.  I  give 
you  Lady  Hamilton's  own  words.  "  How  shall 
I  describe  the  transports  of  the  Queen?  'tis  not 
possible:  she  cried,  kissed  her  husband,  her  chil- 
dren, walked  frantic  abouttheroom,  crie\l,  kissed 
and  embraced  every  person  near  her;  exclaiming, 
O  brave  Nelson !  O  God  bless  and  protect  our  brave 
deliverer!  O  Nelson,  Nelson,  what  do  we  not  owe 
you!  O  Victor,  Saviour  of  Italy!  O  that  my  swoln 
heart  could  now  tell  him  personally  what  we  owe  to 
him!"  You  may  judge,  Fanny,  of  the  rest:  but 
my  head  will  not  allow  me  to  tell  you  half;  so 
much  for  that.  My  fag,  without  success,  would 
have  had  no  effect,  but  blessed  be  God  for  his 
goodness  to  me." 

A  second  account  of  Nelaon's  victory  was  soon 
afterwards  brought  to  Naples  by  the  Terpsichore* 
Captain  Gage,  who  had  been  sent  with  the  intel- 
ligence from  off  Candia  by  Captain  Dixon  of  the 
Lion.  Sir  William  Hamilton,  in  sending  the  Ad- 
miral word  of  this,  added,  That  on  the  9th  of 
September  two  Maltese  speronara  boats  had  ar- 
rived at  Naples,  with  information  that  the  inhabi- 
tants of  that  Island,  on  hearing  of  the  overthrow 
of  the  French  fleet  in  Egypt,  had  risen,  and  mas- 
sacred many  of  the  French;  that  the  main  body 
of  them  had  retired  into  Valette,  whilst  the  In- 
surgents had  taken  possession  of  two  forts,  and 
had  hoisted  the  Neapolitan  flag  with  that  of  St. 


495 

John;  but  being  in  want  of  arms  and  ammu- 
nition, they  had  sent  to  request  them  at  Syracuse, 
the  Governor  of  which  had  despatched  their 
speronaras  to  Naples.  They  also  added,  that  le 
Guillaume  Tell,  and  the  two  French  frigates  had 
got  into  Malta. 

(1798.)  Notwithstanding  all  these  congratu- 
lations and  professions,  the  mind  of  this  great 
officer,  yet  untainted  by  the  intrigues  of  an  Ita- 
lian Court,  secretly  dreaded  to  refit  his  ships  at 
Naples.  Naturally  averse  from  the  character 
of  Foreigners,  and  possessing  some  idea  of  the 
danger  of  the  torrent  of  adulation  and  distinc- 
tion, which  was  ready  to  burst  upon  him,  Nelson 
remembered  that  as  a  man,  his  mind  possessed 
the  weakness  common  to  all :  he  therefore  ear- 
nestly wished,  yet  without  possessing  resolution  to 
execute  it,  to  avoid  any  intercourse  with  Naples; 
and  this  will  be  sufficiently  evident  from  his  let- 
ters. In  writing  to  Lord  St.  Vincent  on  the  20th 
of  September,  he  said,  "  I  detest  this  voyage  to 
Naples;  nothing  but  absolute  necessity  could 
force  me  to  the  measure.  Syracuse  in  future, 
whilst  my  operations  lie  on  the  eastern  side  of 
Sicily,  is  my  port,  where  every  refreshment  may 
be  had  for  a  fleet." 

V.  The  long  expected  arrival  of  the  Van- 
guard at  Naples,  and  the  extraordinary  manner 
in  which  the  hero  of  Aboukir  was  received,  are 
thus  described  by  himself  in  a  letter  to  Lady 
Nelson.  t(  The  poor  wretched  Vanguard  arrived 


496 

here  on  the  2£d  of  September.  I  must  endeavour 
to  convey  to  you  something  of  what  passed;  but 
if  it  were  so  affecting  to  those  only  \\  ho  were 
united  to  me  by  bonds  of  friendship,  what 
must  it  be  to  my  clearest  wife,  my  friend,  my 
every  thing  which  is  most  dear  to  me  in  this 
world? — Sir  William  and  Lady  Hamilton  came 
out  to  sea,  attended  by  numerous  boats,  with 
emblems,  &c.  They,  my  most  respectable  friends, 
had  really  been  laid  up  and  seriously  ill:  first 
from  anxiety,  and  then  from  joy.  It  was  impru- 
dently told  Lady  Hamilton  in  a  moment,  and  the 
effect  was  like  a  shot;  she  fell  apparently  dead, 
and  is  not  yet  perfectly  recovered  from  severe 
bruises.  Alongside  came  my  honoured  friends, 
the  scene  in  the  boat  was  terribly  affecting;  up 
flew  her  Ladyship,  and  exclaiming,  "  O  God  is  it 
possible !"  she  fell  into  my  arm  more  dead  than 
alive.  Tears,  however,  soon  set  matters  to  rights; 
when  alongside  came  the  King.  The  scene  was 
in  its  way  as  interesting;  he  took  me  by  the 
hand,  calling  me  his  deliverer  and  preserver^ 
with  every  other  expression  of  kindness.  In 
short  all  Naples  calls  me  Nostro  Liberators;  my 
greeting  from  the  lower  classes  was  truly  affect- 
ing. I  hope  some  day  to  have  the  pleasure  of 
introducing  you  to  Lady  Hamilton,  she  is  one  of 
the  very  best  women  in  this  world;  she  is  an  ho- 
nour to  her  sex.  Her  kindness  with  Sir  William's 
to  me  is  more  than  I  can  express:  I  am  in  their 
house,  and  I  may  now  tell  you,  it  required  all  the 


497 

kindness  of  my  friends  to  set  me  up.  Lady 
Hamilton  intends  writing  to  you.  May  God 
Almighty  bless  you,  and  give  us,  in  due  time,  a 
happy  meeting." 

(1798.)  To  Lady  Nelson,  dated  Sept.  28.— "The 
preparations  of  Lady  Hamilton  for  celebrating 
my  birth-day  to-morrow  are  enough  to  fill  me. 
with  vanity ;  every  ribbon,  every  button,  has 
Nelson,  &c.  The  whole  service  is  marked  H.  N. 
Glorious  1st  of  August ! — Songs,  and  sonnetti 
are  numerous  beyond  what  I  ever  could  deserve, 
I  send  the  additional  verse  to  God  Save  the  King, 
es  I  know  you  will  sing  it  with  pleasure.  I  can-* 
not  move  on  foot,  or  in  a  carriage,  for  the  kind- 
ness of  the  populace ;  but  good  Lady  H.  pre- 
serves all  the  papers  as  the  highest  treat  for  you. 
The  Queen  yesterday,  being  still  ill,  sent  her  fa- 
vourite son  to  visit  and  bring  me  a  letter  from 
her  of  gratitude  and  thanks. — Miserable  accounts 
of  le  Guillaume  Tell.  I  trust  God  Almighty  will 
yet  put  her  into  the  hands  of  our  King,  His  all 
powerful  'hand  has  gone  with  us-  to  the  battle, 
protected  us,  and  still  continues  destroying  the 
Unbelievers :  All  glory  be  to  God.  The  more  I 
think,  the  more  I  hear,  the  greater  is  my  asto- 
nishment at  the  extent  and  good  consequences 
of  our  Victory." 

Her  Majesty  the  Queen  of  Naples  to  Admiral 
Sir  Horatio  Nelson. — "  This  letter  will  be  deli- 
vered to  you  by  a  Child,  who  is  very  dear  to  me. 
I  envy  him  the  pleasure  which  he  will  have  of 

2  K 


408 

Seeing  you,  and  am  much  distressed  that  my  hi- 
disposition  prevents  me  from  expressing  all  my 
esteem  and  gratitude.  This  Child  must  serve  in 
the  Navy  ;  I  hope  he  will  follow  your  steps,  and 
that  he  will  be  able  one  day  to  acquire,  at  least,  a 
part  of  your  glory.  My  dear  Leopold  has  de- 
clared hi.s  regret,  and  like  a  child  of  his  tender 
age  with  tears,  that  he  had  never  before  known 
so  brave  a  man.  In  order  to  gratify  his  ardent 
desire  I  have  sent  him  to  you,  when  he  will  de- 
clare how  anxious  I  am  to  be  sufficiently  reco- 
vered to  assure  you,  of  my  gratitude,  deeply  .en- 
graven on  my  heart,  and  which  I  shall  always 
preserve  for  a  man  so  illustrious.  Croyez  que 
?na  recorinoissante  estime  pour  wus,  mon  valereus 
et  glorieux  General)  m  accQmpagmra  au  tombeau. 
Signee  CHARLOTTE." 

The  praise  of  a  Queen,  thus  communicated  by 
her  son  who  was  intended  to  emulate  the  career 
of  Nelson  in  the  Royal  Navy,  could  not  fail  of 
making  a  lasting  impression  09  this  loyal  and 
gallant  warrior;  but  his  mind  still  revolted  at 
the  general  character  and  politics  of  the  Neapo* 
litans,  which  it  required  some  potent  spells  to 
overcome.  In  writing  on  the  SOth  of  September 
to  Lord  St.  Vincent,  he  thus  gave  vent  to  his 
then  unsubdued  feelings :  "I  trust,  my  Lord,  in 
a  week  we  shall' all  be  at  sea.  I  am  very  unwell, 
and  the  miserable  conduct  of  this  Court  is  not 
likely  to  cool  my  irritable  temper.  It  is  a  Coun- 
try of  fiddlers  and  poets,  whores  and  scoundrel*." 


495 

(1798.)  Owing  to  the  capture  of  the  Leander 
by  le  Genereux,  on  the  18th  of  August,  near  the 
Island  of  Candia,  after  a  gallant  and  almost  un- 
precedented defence  by  Capt.  T.  B. a  Thompson, 
it  was  a  considerable  time  before  any  official  ac- 
count of  the  Battle  of  the  Nile  reached  Lord  St. 
Vincent.     The  following  is  the  letter  of  congra- 
tulation which  he  then  returned.     "  My  dear 
Admiral :  God  be  praised,  and  you  and  your  gal- 
lant band  rewarded  by  a  grateful  Country,   for 
the  greatest  achievement  the  history  of  the  world 
can  produce.     I  most  sincerely  lament  the  loss 
of  Captain  Westcott,  and  the  number  of  brave 
officers  and  men  who  have  fallen  on  this  signal 
occasion.      Notwithstanding  all   that  has  been, 
jsaid  against  me  for  appointing  you  to  command 
the  detached  squadron,  the  event  has  proved  that 
my  judgment  was  correct." 

Captain  Cuthbert  Collingzvood,  from  off  Cadiz, 
to  Admiral  Ndson. — "  I  cannot,  my  dear  Friend, 
express  how  great  my  joy  is  for  the  complete  and 
glorious  victory  you  have  obtained  over  the 
JYench ;  the  most  decisive,  and  in  its  conse- 
quences, perhaps,  the  most  important  to  Europe 
tnat  was  ever  won  ;  and  my  heart  overflows  with 
thankfulness  to  the  Divine  Providence  for  his 
protection  ^f  you  through  the  great  dangers 

a  Since  made  Comptroller  of  the  Navy,  on  the  resignation  of 
Sir  Andrew  Hamond,  Bart.  Capt.  Thompson's  letter  to  Sir  H, 
Nelson  respecting  this  action,  is  dated  Trieste,  Oct.  13,  1798, 

2  K  2 


500 

which  are  ever  attendant  on  services  of  such 
eminence.     So  total  an  overthrow  of  their  Fleet, 
and  the  consequent  deplorable  situation  of  the 
Army  they  have  in  Africa,    I  hope  will  teach 
those  tyrants  in  the  Directory  a  lesson  of  humi- 
lity,  and  dispose  them  to  peace  and  to  Justice; 
that  they  may  restore  to  those  States  they  have 
ruined  all  that  can  be  saved  out  of  the  wreck  of 
a  subverted  government  and  plundered  people* 
I  lament  most  sincerely   the  death  of  Captain 
Westcott,  a  good  officer  and  a  worthy  man  :  but 
if  it  were  a  part  of  our  condition  to  chuse  a  day 
to  die  on,  where  could  we  have  found  one  so  me- 
morable,   so   eminently   distinguished    amongst 
great  days  ? 

"  Say  to  Lady  Nelson  when  you  write  to  her, 
how  much  I  congratulate  her  on  the  safety,  the 
honours,  and  the  services  of  her  husband.  Good 
God,  what  must  be  her  feelings,  how  great  her 
gratitude  to  Heaven  for  such  mercies.  Pray 
give  my  hearty  congratulations  to  all  my,  friends 
in  your  Fleet. 

"  I  am  glad  to  understand  my  worthy  Ball 
and  Darby  are  recovering.  May  success  ever 
attend  you,  my  dear  Friend,  is  the  constant- 
prayer  of  your  faithful  and  affectionate  Cuthbert 
Collingwood." 

VI.  That  anxiety  respecting  the  proceedings  of 
the  detached  squadron  under  Rear  Admiral  Sir 
Horatio  Nelson,  which  had  so  long  prevailed 
throughout  England  during  the  summer  and  au- 


501 

tumn  of  1798,  had  been  painfully  increased  by 
the  unfortunrte  capture  of  the  Leauder.  Lord 
Spencer  unable  to  bear  the  dreadful  state  of  un- 
certainty and  the  variety  of  rumour  which  de- 
pressed and  irritated  the  nation,  had  retired  into 
the  country  with  the  hope  of  weakening  appre- 
hensions he  could  not  subdue.  In  a  letter  which, 
his  Lordship  sent  on  Sept.  30,  to  Sir  Horatio  Nel- 
son, the  indefatigable  and  upright  Minister  thu* 
described  the  state  of  his  own  and  the  public 
rnind.  ^  You  may  easily,  my  clear  Sir,  conceive 
the  anxiety  we  have  been  under  about  you,  and 
your  operations ;  and  the  distance  at  which  you 
are  placed  from  us,  increased  as  it  is  by  the  pre- 
sent inconvenient  situation  of  Europe  for  com- 
munication, makes  it  impossible  almost  to  know 
how  and  what  to  write.  After  the  receipt  of  your 
two  letters  of  the  26th  of  May,  and  15th  of  June, 
the  only  ones  I  have  received  from  you  since  you 
parted  from  Lord  St.  Vincent  off  Cadiz,  I  waited 
for  a  considerable  time  in  the  greatest  anxiety, 
expecting  every  day  to  hear  some  glorious  ac- 
count from  you;  and  until  the  16'th  of  this 
month,  when  I  received  a  letter  from  Sir  W. 
Hamilton,  enclosing  your's  to  luro  ol  the  20th 
and  22dof  July,  I  did  not  quite  give  up  all  hopes 
of  your  having  had  some  very  considerable  suc- 
cess ;  notwithstanding  the  positive  assertions  of 
the  French  papers,  that  Buonaparte  and  his  whole 
force  were  landed  in  Egypt.  Since  the  receipt 
of  these  letters,  we  have  again  been  put  on  the 


502 

tip-toe  of  expectation,  both  by  the  French  pa- 
pers and  by  accounts  from  Constantinople;  and 
in  spite  of  our  former  disappointment  every  one 
in  London  is  fully  convinced  that  you  have  gain- 
ed an  important  victory  .  . .  God  bless  you,  dear 
Sir  Horatio,  and  grant  that  we  may  very  soon 
have  some  good  tidings  from  you." 

(1798.)  Such  was  the  state  of  affairs  at  home, 
•when  on  the  morning  of  the  2d  of  October,  the 
Honourable  Captain  Capel  arrived  at  the  Admi- 
ralty with  a  copy  of  Sir  Horatio  Nelson's  de- 
spatches to  Lord  St.  Vincent,  containing  an  ac- 
count of  the  destruction  of  the  French  fleet; 
and  a  subsequent  letter,  dated  August  the  7th, 
referring  their  Lordships  to  Captain  Capel  as  a 
most  excellent  officer  and  fully  able  to  give  every 
information.  The  joy  that  prevailed  throughout 
Great  Britain,  declared  how  ill  the  nation  would 
have  supported  an  unsuccessful  officer.  Public 
spirit  revived;  the  stocks,  that  fluctuating  level 
which  marks  the  national  confidence  in  Govern- 
ment, rose  in  an  extraordinary  manner;  and  the 
Minister  wfro  sat  at  the  helm  of  the  State  was 
enabled  to  meet  the  opening  of  Parliament  with 
another  signal  Victory  which  he  had  not  ex- 
pected. 

Admiral  Nelson  was  immediately  advanced 
by  his  Majesty  to  the  Peerage.  On  the  4th  of 
October,  Lord  Spencer  sent  for  Mr.  Maurice 
Nelson  the  elder  brother  of  the  family,  and 
requested  to  know  if  he  had  ever  beard  of  any 


503 

title   which    Sir   Horatio    would   prefer.     This 
worthy  relative  of  the  noble  Admiral,   who  was 
universally  beloved  and  respected,   wished  that 
the  Name  might  be  retained.      Accordingly,   on 
the  6th   of  October,    Sir   Horatio   Nelson  was 
created  a  Peer  of  Great  Britain,   by  the  title  of 
Baron  Nelson   of  the   Nile,    and    of  Burnham 
Thorpe  in  the  county  of  Norfolk.     On  the  20th 
of  the  ensuing  month,  the  King  delivered  the 
following  most  honourable  commendation  of  the 
Battle  of  the  Nile,  on  the  meeting  of  Parliament: 
"  The  unexampled  series  of  our  Naval  Triumphs 
has  received  fresh  splendour  from  the  memorable 
and  decisive  Action,  in   which  a  detachment  of 
my  Fleet  under  the  command  of  Rear  Admiral 
Lord  Nelson  attacked,  and  almost,  totally  de- 
stroyed a  superior  force  of  the  enemy  strength- 
ened by  every  advantage  of  situation.     By  this 
great   and   brilliant   Victory,    an  enterprise  of 
which  the  Injustice,   Perfidy,  and  Extravagance 
had  fixed  the  attention  of  the  world,   and  which 
was  peculiarly  directed  against  some  of  the  most 
valuable  interests  of  the  British  Empire,   has,  in 
the  first  instance,   been  turned  to  the  confusion 
of  its  authors ;  and  the  blow  thus  given  to  the 
power  and  influence  of  France  has  afforded  an 
opening  which,  if  improved  by  suitable  exertions 
on  the  part  of  other  powers,  may  lead  to  the  ge- 
neral deliverance  of  Europe. . .," 

On   the   22d  of   November    a    nressage   wa§ 
brought  down  to  the  House  expressive  of   the 


504 

Sovereign's  wish  to  reward  the  noble  Admiral: 
"  His  Majesty  having  taken  into  his  considera- 
tion the  signal  and  meritorious  services  perform- 
ed by  Rear  Admiral  Lord  Nelson,  in  the  memo- 
rable and  decisive  victory  obtained  over  a  supe- 
rior French  fleet  off  the  mouth  of  the  Nile,  not 
only  highly  honourable  to  himself,  but  eminently 
beneficial  to  these  kingdoms ;  and  his  Majesty 
being  desirous  to  confer  upon  him  some  consi- 
derable and  lasting  mark  of  his  Royal  favour, 
in  testimony  of  his  approbation  of  his  great  ser- 
vices, recommends  it  to  his  faithful  Commons, 
to  consider  of  the  means  of  enabling  his  Ma- 
jesty to  extend  and  secure  an  Annuity  of  2,000/. 
per  annum  to  Rear  Admiral  Lord  Nelson,  and 
the  two  next  heirs  male  on  whom  the  title  of 
Baron  Nelson  of  the  b  Nile  and  Burnham  Thorpe 
in  the  county  of  Norfolk  shall  descend,  in  such 
manner  as  shall  be  most  advantageous  to  their 

O 

interests."  This  was  followed  by  a  grant  of 
Arms  expressive  of  the  great  achievements  of 
the  noble  Admiral,  and  of  the  honours  which  he 
had  received  from  the  Sublime  Porte:  The  ap- 
propriate motto  to  which  is  said  to  have  been  se- 
lected by  his  own  Sovereign,  Palmam  qui  mcruit 
ferat. 

The  thanks  of  both  houses  of  the  British  c  Par- 

b  It  is  a  singular  circumstance,  that  the  letters  in  the  name 
of  HORATIO   NELSONJ   should  make  the   following  anagram, 

HONOH  EST  A  NlLO. 

c  See  in  Quarto  Edit.  vol.  ii.  p.  107,  the  speech  of  Lord  Minto, 
illustrative  of  the  professional  character  of  Lord  Nelson. 


505 

Jiamcnt  and  of  the  Parliament  of  Ireland  were 
^unanimously ,  voted.  Gold  medals,  similar  to 
those  which  had  been  given  by  the  King  for  the 
other  great  naval  Actions  in  the  war,  were  by 
his  Majesty  ordered  to  be  presented  by  Lord 
Spencer  to  Admiral  Nelson  and  to  the  Captains 
who  served  under  Ifis  orders :  the  first  Lieute- 
nants of  the  ships  engaged  were  distinguished 
by  promotion,  and  the  Senior  Marine  Officer  in. 
the  Squadron  was  recommended  to  H,  R.  H.  the 
Commander  in  Chief,  that  he  might  have  a  step 
in  brevet  rank  conferred  upon  him ;  which  was 
granted, 

Admiral  Lord  Howe,  on  the  3d  of  October, 
deservedly  took  the  lead  amongst  those  who  sent 
congratulations  to  the  Admiral,  "  Though  con- 
scious, Sir,"  wrote  that  veteran  Seaman,  "  how 
many  letters  of  congratulation  you  are  likely  to 
receive  by  the  same  conveyance,  on  the  subject 
of  your  despatches  by  Captain  Capel,  I  trust 
you  will  forgive  the  additional  trouble  of  my 
compliments  on  this  singular  occasion:  Not  less 
memorable  for  the  Skill,  than  coolJudgment  tes- 
tified under  considerable  disadvantages  in  the  su- 
perior force  and  situation  of  the  Enemy." — 
"  With  what  pleasure,"  said  Admiral  Goodall, 
"  do  I  congratulate  you,  my  dear  Nelson,  on 
your  glorious  victory.  I  know  not  where  to 
place  the  preference  in  my  praises  ;  whether  in 
the  boldness  of  the  attempt,  or  in  the  skill  with 
which  it  was  conducted^  unrivalled  in  our  An- 


506 

ijals.  I  had  often  been  obliged  to  stand  in  the 
breach  against  the  senseless  criticisms  of  the 
noble  and  ignoble  of  this  Country  ;  you  know 
them  to  be  governed  by  the  tide  of  swoln  and 
immediate  success.  How  often  have  I  been 
questioned,  What  is  your  favourite  Hero  about  ? 
the  French  fleet  has  passed  under  his  nose,  &c.  &c. 
To  all  which  I  uniformly  answered,  *  I  know  him 
well;  if  Fortune  has  not  crowned  his  labour  and 
anxiety  in  the  event,  yet  something  capital  will 
be  done.  I  know  him  and  most  of  his  gallant 
Companions  who  are  to  support  him  in  the  day 
of  battle.  You  will  not  hear  from  him  until  he 
has  thundered  in  the  Storm  and  directed  the 
•yyhirlwind  that  will  overwhelm  the  enemy.'  My 
opinion  has  been  entirely  confirmed  :  Your  gal- 
lantry, my  dear  Friend,  has  silenced  both  jea- 
lousy and  censure,  and  raised  a  name  which  will 
exist  in  futurity  as  long  as  history,  or  monumen- 
tal tablets  are  preserved." 

The  disinterested  conduct  of  his  elder  brother 
Maurice,  claims  remembrance  as  displaying  a 
greatness  of  mind  which  must  ever  honour  his 
memory.  In  writing  to  Lady  Nelson,  whilst  the 
entail  ©f  his  brother's  honours  was  under  the 
consideration  of  Government,  Maurice  declared 
that  his  brother  William  should  have  the  prefer- 
ence :  It  will  be  my  wish  and  request  to  the  Ad- 
miral, added  this  generous  and  noble  relative, 
not  to  put  my  name  in  the  Patent.  I  move  in  too 
humble  a  sphere  to  think  of  such  a  thing. — The 


507 

-Lord  Mayor,  Anderson,  on  the  19th  of  October, 
transmitted  to  the  Admiral  the  congratulations 
and  vote  of  thanks  of  the  Common  Council  for 
the  sword  of  the  French  Admiral  Blanquet,  which 
had  been  deposited  in  the  chamber  of  the  Guild- 
hall of  the  city  of  London  ;  as  also  the  thanks  of 
that  honourable  Court  to  the  Captains,  officers, 
and  seamen  of  the  squadron,  who,  under  the  com- 
mand of  Admiral  Nelson,  had  manifested  to  the 
world  an  additional  instance  of  the  superior  dis- 
cipline and  irresistible  bravery  of  British  seamen. 
A  Sword  of  the  value  of  two  hundred  guineas, 
was  also  voted  to  Lord  Nelson,  and  the  freedom 
of  the  city  to  Sir  Edward  Berry.  The  East  In- 
dia Company  unanimously  ordered  a  grant  of 
1 0,000 1.  The  Turkey  Company,  a  present  of 
Plate  of  great  value.  The  city  of  Liverpool 
voted  the  freedom  of  that  borough,  and  town, 
as  the  only  mark  of  respect  which  amidst  the 
honours  so  deservedly  bestowed  by  the  King, 
and  the  applauses  and  acclamations  of  the  whole 
body  of  the  People,  and  the  surrounding  world, 
it  was  in  their  power  with  propriety  to  present; 
and  the  Mayor  of  Liverpool,  Leyland,  was  also 
instructed  to  request,  '  That  the  noble  Admiral 
would  please  to  make  known  to  the  several  Cap- 
tains and  other  officers,  and  seamen  of  his  squa~ 
dron,  the  very  grateful  sense  which  the  Corpor 
rate  Body  of  Liverpool,  as  representing  the 
second  Seaport  in  the  Kingdom,  entertains  of 
-$he  heroic  Valour,  the  exemplary  Discipline 


508 

• 

and  the  great  and  enterprising  spirit  of  the  Bri- 
tish Seamen  which  shone  forth  upon  the  late 
wonderful  and  unrivalled  Victory.' 

(1798.)  Nor  was  the  praise  that  was  due  to 
Lord  St.  Vincent  for  his  selection  of  Sir  Horatio 
and  his  squadron,  forgotten  amidst  the  general 
exultation  at  the  victory.  Earl  Spencer  in  writ- 
ing to  that  Commander  in  Chief,  Oct.  9,  said, 
"  After  having  had  a  week  to  reflect  on  the 
event  of  the  Engagement  on  the  coast  of  Egypt, 
and  all  the  various  most  important  consequences 
which  will  ensue  if  proper  use  is  made  of  it;  I 
cannot  help  once  more  congratulating  your  Lord- 
ship on  the  subject,  and  repeating  how  strongly 
impressed  I  feel  with  the  great  share  which  your 
very  judicious  selection  of  the  Ships  and  Cap- 
tains who  composed  that  Squadron,  has  had  in 
insuring  to  us  so  brilliant  and  decisive  a  result." 
Mr.  Nepean  in  a  letter  to  Lord  St.  Vincent,  on 
the  same  day,  added,  "  The  enclosed  is  a  notifi- 
cation of  Nelson's  Peerage.  1  would  give  a 
great  deal  were  it  possible  for  me  to  be  present 
at  your  first  meeting.  You  will  hardly  be  ques- 
tioned now  upon  the  propriety  of  your  choice." 

VII.  Such  being  the  state  of  exultation  at  home, 
and  the  liberal  spirit  which  his  Country  displayed 
on  this  memorable  occasion;  our  attention  is  now 
aorain  directed  to  the  noble  Admiral  himself  and 

9 

his  brave  followers  in  the  Mediterranean.  The 
reception  which  he  had  met  with  from  all  ranks 
at  Naples,  had  weakened,  if  not  entirely  subdued 


509 

the  strong  aversion  which  he  felt  from  remain- 
ing long  in  that  enchanting  city.      Overcome 
•with  fatigue,   and  harassed  by  the  importance 
and  variety  of  duty  that  was  intrusted  to  him, 
he   too  much  felt  the  value  of  his  friend  the 
English  Minister;  and  being  constantly  at  his 
house  enjoyed  a  delightful,   but  dangerous  re- 
laxation in  the  extraordinary  talents  and  capti- 
vating flatteries  of  Emma,  Lady  Hamilton.     On 
the  4th  of  October,  in  writing  to  Earl d  St.  Vin- 
cent,  he  described  the  state  of  Naples  towards 
the  close  of  1798,  and  evidently  shewed  a  grow- 
ing partiality  for  the  Queen's  opinions ;    which 
possessed  a  violent  and  vindictive  spirit  that  had, 
jiot  been  duly  appretiated   by  his  unsuspicious, 
and  loyal  integrity ;  who  saw  only  an  insulted 
woman,   and  the  daughter  of  the  great  Theresa. 
In  another  letter,  to  Lady  Nelson  from  Naples, 
dated  Oct.  1 — 6,   the   noble  Admiral   thus  de- 
scribed the  feelings  of  his  affectionate  and  too 
grateful  heart:  "  Our  time  her£  is  actively  em- 
ployed ;  and  between  business  and  what  is  called 
pleasure  I  am  not  my  own  master  for  five  mi- 
nutes.    The  continued  kind  attention  of  Sir  Wil- 
liam and  Lady  Hamilton  must  ever  make  you 
and  I  love  them,  and  they  are  deserving  the  love 
and  admiration  of  all  the  world.     The  Grand 
Seignior  has  ordered  me  a  valuable  diamond;  if 
it  were  worth  a  million,  my  pleasure  would  be 

d  See  Quarto  Edit.  vol.  ii,  page  111, 


410 

tb  see  it  in  your  possession.  My  pride  is  being 
your  husband,  the  Son  of  my  dear  Father,  and 
in  having  Sir  William  and  Lady  Hamilton  for 
my  friends.  While  these  approve  of  my  con- 
duct, I  shall  not  feel  or  regard  the  envy  of 
thousands.  Could  I,  my  dearest  Fanny,  tell  you 
half  the  honours  which  are  shewn  me  here,  not 
a  ream  of  paper  would  hold  it.  On  my  birth- 
day, eighty  people  dined  at  Sir  William  Hamil- 
ton's; one  thousand  seven  hundred  and  forty 
came  to  a  ball,  where  eight  hundred  supped.  A 
rostral  column  is  erected  under  a  magnificent 
canopy,  never,  Lady  H.  says,  to  come  down 
while  they  remain  at  Naples.  A  little  circum- 
stance has  also  happened  which  does  honour  to 
the  King  of  Naples,  and  is  not  unpleasant  to  me. 
I  went  to  view  the  magnificent  manufactory  of 
china.  After  admiring  all  the  fine  things  suffi- 
cient to  seduce  the  money  from  my  pocket,  I 
came  to  some  busts  in  China  of  all  the  Royal  Fa- 
mily :  these  I  immediately  ordered,  and,  when  I 
wanted  to  pay  for  them,  I  was  informed  that  th& 
King  had  directed  whatever  I  chose  should  be 
delivered  free  of  all  costs  :  it  was  handsome  in 
the  King." 

(1798.)  The  following  note  from  the  Russian 
Emperor  Paul  to  the  noble  Admiral,  written  in 
French,  is  dated  Petersburg!),  October  8,  '  Vice 
Admiral  Nelson  :  Considering  the  cause  of  my 
Allies  as  my  own,  I  am  unable  to  express  the 
pleasure  which  your  success  has  afforded  me. 


511 

The  complete  victory  which  you  have  gained 
over  the  Common  Enemy,  and  the  destruction 
of  the  French  Fleet,  are  assuredly  sufficient  ti- 
tles to  draw  on  you  the  suffrages  of  that  part  of 
Europe  which  still  retains  its  reason.  In  order 
to  give  you  a  marked  acknowledgment  of  the 
justice  rendered  by  me  to  your  military  talents, 
I  have  sent  you  a  box,  with  my  portrait,  en- 
riched with  diamonds;  and  I  beg  that  you  would 
feel  assured  of  my  high  regard,  and  I  pray  God 
that  he  may  keep  you  under  his  holy  and  gra- 
cious protection.  PAUL." 

(1798.)  The  manner  of  opening  the  war  which 
the  Neapolitan  Court  had  at  length  decided  on, 
is  given  in  the  following  letter  from  the  Sici- 
lian Minister  Acton,  written  in  English,  to  Sir. 
William  Hamilton,  dated  Caserta,  October  13. 
"  I  acquaint  you,  my  dear  Sir,  by  the  King's 
orders,  with  the  resolutions  taken  last  night  and 
this  morning,  about  the  operations  of  his  Ma- 
jesty's army,  and  must  beg  of  you  to  present 
this  intelligence  to  Admiral  Nelson.  It  has  been 
determined  that  30,000  men  should  march  as 
soon  as  possible  towards  the  best  positions  in  the 
Appenines,  in  order  to  cover  the  kingdom  from 
its  threatened  invasion;  and  that  15,000  men 
should  be  ready  on  our  frontiers,  to  support  the 
first  army  for  the  garrison  of  Rome  and  other 
places,  and  to  keep  the  communication  open  and 
free  with  this  kingdom,  if  the  Romans  should 
happen  to  forsake  their  offers,  of  joining;  with  us 


512 

in  the  expulsion  of  the  French  from  their  terri- 
tories. The  intention  of  sending  8,000  men  at 
the  same  time  to  Leghorn  has  not  as  yet  ap- 
peared prudent,  until  we  hear  from  the  Emperor. 
I  beg  of  you,  my  dear  Sir,  to  present  to  Admiral 
Nelson  these  ideas.  His  Sicilian  Majesty  leaves 
to  the  brave  Admiral  to  combine  with  these  ope- 
rations what  he  may  think  fit  and  proper  at  the 
moment ;  and  feels  with  warm  gratitude  his  most 
kind  declarations  to  support  the  King,  his  Royal 
Family,  and  his  two  kingdoms.  His  Majesty 
thinks  also  that  the  Admiral's  name  and  co- 
operation with  the  Sicilian  arms  would  prove  of 
the  most  essential  weight,  and  raise  the  spirit  of 
the,  until  now,  dejected  Italians.  The  recovery 
of  Malta,  and  the  drawing  the  French  from 
Corfu,  would  be  an  essential  service;  and  ac- 
cording to  what  Admiral  Nelson  was  so  kind  as 
to  tell  me  for  his  Majesty's  intelligence,  he  has 
already  provided  for  these  important  objects." 

A  sufficient  squadron  being  at  length  ready  to 
ac.company  the  Admiral  to  Malta,  consisting  of 
the  Vanguard,  Minotaur,  Audacious,  Goliath,  and 
Alutine,  he  prepared  to  sail  from  Naples ;  and 
in  a  letter  to  Earl  St.  Vincent  gave  the  follow- 
ing account  of  his  taking  leave  of  the  King: 
"  On  Monday  the  15th,  at  eight  o'clock,  the 
King  and  Prince  Leopold  came  on  board  and  did 
me  the  honour  of  breakfasting.  At  ten  the 
squadron  weighed  anchor;  at  eleven  his  Majesty 
left  the  ship,  expressing  himseif  in  the  most  flat- 


513 

taring  manner  towards  me.  The  King  had  all 
the  respect  paid  him  by  the  squadron  that  our 
situation  would  admit  of,  and  which  it  was  not 
only  our  duty  but  so  much  our  inclination  to 
shew  him.  The  King  having  desired  my  return 
to  Naples  in  the  first  week  in  November,  I  shall 
come  back  after  having  arranged  the  blockade 
of  Malta,  and  endeavour  to  be  useful  to  the 
movements  of  their  army.  In  thus  acquiescing 
with  the  desire  of  the  King  of  Naples,  I  give  up 
my  plan,  which  was  to  have  gone  to  Egypt  and 
attended  to  the  destruction  of  the  French  ship- 
ping in  that  quarter ;  but  I  hope  that  before 
Captain  Hood  quits  his  station,  both  the  Turkish 
and  Russian  squadrons  will  be  on  that  coast, 
when  all  will  be  right  I  hope,  although  I  own 
myself  not  willing  to  trust  any  of  our  allies  to  do 
that  which  we  could  perform  ourselves.  I  have 
reason  for  thinking  that  the  strong  wish  for  our 
squadron  being  on  the  coast  of  Naples  is,  that 
in  case  of  any  mishap,  their  Majesties  think  their 
persons  would  be  much  safer  under  the  protection 
of  the  British  flag  than  any  other. 

"  October  \9tk.  My  letter  on  the  subject  of 
our  dear  friend  Troubridge,  which  was  lost  with 
many  others  in  the  Leander,  was  to  authorise 
you  to  add  a  paragrapli  to  my  public  letter,  if 
you  thought  it  more  to  the  advantage  of  Xrou- 
bridge ;  for  I  thought  it  better  to  make  no  men- 
tion of  his  disaster.  /  consider  Captain  Trou- 
bridge's  conduct  as  fully  entitled  to  praise  as  any 

2  L 


514 

one  officer  in  the  squadron,  and  as  highly  deserving 
reward.  lie  commanded  a  division  equally  with  Sir 
James  Saumarez,  by  my  order  dated  in  June ;  and 
I  should  feel  distressed  if  any  Iwnour  which  is 
granted  to  one,  be  not  granted  to  the  other.  This 
part  of  my  letter  I  wish  you,  my  dear  Lord,  to 
make  use  of  to  Lord  Spencer,  should  any  dif- 
ference be  made.  The  eminent  services  of  our 
friend  deserve  the  very  highest  rewards.  I  have 
experienced  the  ability  and  activity  of  his  mind 
and  body:  It  was  Troubridge  who  equipped 
the  squadron  so  soon  at  Syracuse  :  It  was  Trou- 
bridge who  exerted  himself  for  me  after  the 
action :  It  was  Troubridge  who  saved  the  Cul- 
loden,  when  none  that  I  know  in  the  service 
would  have  attempted  it:  It  is  Troubridge 
whom  I  have  left  as  myself  at  Naples,  he  is  as 
a  Friend  and  as  an  Officer  a  Nonpareil." 

(1798)  The  blockade  of  the  Island  of  Malta 
had  been  entrusted  to  the  vigilance  and  skill  of 
Captain  Ball;  and  is  dated  by  Lord  Nelson,  in 
his  Memoir,  as  taking  place  from  the  12th  of 
October.  The  state  of  the  islands  of  Malta  and 
Gozo  on  that  day,  with  an  account  of  the  revo- 
lution that  had  taken  place,  is  given  in  an  in- 
teresting report  which  was  sent  to  his  Lordship. 
The  French  force  in  Malta  then  consisted  of 
about  3000  soldiers  and  sailors,  and  of  100  Mal- 
tese ;  the  only  part  of  the  inhabitants  who  would 
take  up  arms  for  the  French.  About  10,000  of 
Maltese  were  in  arou;  they  had  twenty  three 


515 

guns  on  the  island,  of  which  twelve  were  mount- 
ed ;  they  had  also  two  galleys  and  four  gunboats. 
On  Saturday,  the  day  previous  to  the  insurrec- 
tion of  the  Maltese,  the  French,  in  addition  to 
their  usual  professions  in  the  gazette,  had  issued 
a  manifesto  declaring  that  they  should  consider 
the  plate  and  riches  of  the  churches  as  sacred, 
promising  neither  to  take  nor  request  any  thing: 
the  very  next  morning,  when  the  churches  were 
opened  for  public  worship,  they  began  their  plun- 
der. The  Maltese,  injured  and  irritated  beyond 
bearing,  immediately  flew  to  revenge  themselves. 
Amongst  the  French  whom  they  put  to  death, 
was  a  general  officer  who  had  been  very  active ; 
with  his  wife  they  found  a  plan  for  entering  all 
the  towns  in  the  island,  murdering  the  strongest 
and  richest  of  the  inhabitants,  and  taking  pos- 
session of  the  best  houses.  They  also  found  a 
paper  in  which  the  various  classes  of  the  people 
were  assigned  different  employments;  sixty  Mal- 
tese had  been  destined  te  bury  the  dead.  About 
eight  days  previous  to  this  event  there  had  been 
an  action  between  the  French  and  Maltese,  in 
which  the  former  had  lost  800  men,  the  latter 
had  only  five  killed  and  five  wounded :  it  lasted 
between  three  and  four  hours.  In  the  sortie 
above  fifty  of  the  French  threw  down  their 
arms,  and  begged  to  join  the  Maltese ;  but  they 
were  fired  on  indiscriminately  with  the  others. 
The  Maltese  beheaded  all  the  bodies  of  the  French 
which  they  could  find,  on  the  spot,  and  carried 

2  L  a 


516 

their  heads  about  the  island  with  parsnips  in  their 
teeth,  as  the  French  had  given  out  that  they  had 
no  provisions  at  Malta  but  parsnips. 

(1798.)  On  the  15th  of  October,  after  receiv- 
ing the  King  and  Prince  Leopold  at  breakfast  on 
board  the  Vanguard,  Lord  Nelson  had  sailed 
from  Naples  to  reinforce  the  blockade  of  Malta  ; 
and  on  the  24th  had  joined  Captain  Ball  and  the 
Marquis  de  Niza.  On  the  28th  the  Commandant 
of  the  French  troops  in  the  castle  of  Gozo  signed 
the  capitulation  which  Nelson  had  approved. 
Captain  Ball  immediately  directed  Captain  Cres- 
well  of  the  marines  to  take  possession,  when  H. 
B.  M.  colours  were  hoisted.  The  next  day  the 
place  was  delivered  up  in  form  to  the  deputies  of 
the  island,  his  Sicilian  Majesty's  colours  were 
hoisted  and  he  acknowledged  the  lawful  Sove- 
reign. The  island  of  Gozo  contained  16,000  in- 
habitants; in  the  castle  were  found  3,200 sacks  of 
corn,  one  eighteen-pounder,  twotwelve-pounders, 
four  six-pounders,  fifty  barrels  of  powder,  and  a 
quantity  of  other  ammunition.  Lord  Nelson,  in 
consequence  of  his  promise  to  the  King  to  return 
to  Naples  during  the  first  week  in  November, 
sailed  from  Malta  on  the  30th  of  October  at 
night,  leaving  its  blockade  to  Captain  Ball  with 
the  Alexander,  Goliath,  Audacious,  Terpsichore, 
and  Incendiary  iireship. 

On  the  arrival  of  the  Vanguard  and  Minotaur 
in  Naples  bay,  they  found  the  Royal  Family 
were  at  Caserta;  upon  which  Lord  Nelsqa 


517 

repaired  thither,  and  on  Nov.  6\  being  a  gala 
day,  he  was  received  by  the  King's  desire 
at  court;  when  he  presented  a  memorial  from 
the  inhabitants  of  Malta,  as  their  deputy,  and 
also  the  colours  taken  at  Gozo.  Earl  St.  Vincent 
in  sending  to  him  the  fresh  instructions  which 
had  been  received  from  the  Admiralty  Board, 
dated  Oct.  3,  added,  "  What  relates,  my  dear 
Admiral,  to  cooperation  with  the  armies  of  the 
Allied  PoM^ers,  cannot  be  in  better  hands  than 
yours.  You  are  as  great  in  the  Cabinet  as  on 
the  Ocean,  and  your  whole  conduct  fills  me  with 
admiration  and  confidence.  The  thorough  know- 
ledge you  possess  of  local  circumstances  and  of 
the  disposition  of  the  contracting  parties,  quali- 
fies you  most  eminently  for  the  uncontrouled 
direction  of  the  naval  part ;  and  you  have  some 
very  able  men  under  your  command,  in  \\  horn 
you  well  know  every  degree  of  confidence  is  to 
be  placed  when  you  have  occasion  to  make  de- 
tachments. The  possession  of  Minorca  would 
greatly  aid  the  blockade  of  Toulon  when  the 
season  will  admit  of  that  operation  ;  and  in  case 
of  success  you  are  authorised  to  take  Commo- 
dore Duckworth  under  your  command,  and  em- 
ploy him  and  the  squadron  under  his  ordets  on 
that  service.  The  bombs  and  their  tenders  may 
be  useful  at  Corfu  and  Zante.  At  a  convenient 
time  you  will  certainly  not  forget  what  is  due  to 
your  friends  at  Genoa.  Captain  Murray  informs 
me  that  Captain  Foley  is  in  a  very  bad  state : 


518 

should  you  be  of  that  opinion,  I  desire  he  may 
come  away  ;    and  perhaps  Sir  William  and  Lady 
Hamilton  would   take  their  passage   with   him 
hither,  and  go   to   England.      I   heartily   con- 
gratulate you,  my  dear  Lord,    on  the  title  the 
King  has  been  pleased  to  bestow  on  you,  which, 
as  you  may  see,  has  come  to  my  knowledge  since 
the  commencement  of  this  letter." — It  may  be 
necessary  here  to  remark,  that  this  letter,  writ- 
ten by   Earl  St.  Vincent,    came   from  a  Naval 
Officer  who  in  general  never  suffered  any  one 
to  act,  but  from  written  orders,  by  which  he  was 
expected  implicitly  to  abide.     The  principal  ob- 
jects that  had  been  recommended  in  the  Instruc- 
tions from  the  Admiralty  were,  1.  The  protection 
of  the  coasts  of  Sicily,  Naples,  and  the  Adriatic; 
and,    in  the  event    of  war    being  renewed   in 
Italy,  an  active  cooperation  with  the  Austrian 
and  Neapolitan  armies.     2.  The  cutting  off  all 
communication  between  France  and  Egypt,  that 
neither  supplies  nor  reinforcements  could  be  sent 
to  the  army  at  Alexandria.     3.  The  blocking  up 
of  Malta.     4.  The  cooperating  with  the  Turkish 
and  Russian  squadrons,   which  were  to  be  sent 
into  the  Archipelago.     After  explaining  the  en- 
gagements that  were  likely  to  be  entered  into 
between  Great  Britain  and  the  Ottoman  Porte 
in  the  ninth  article  of  a  proposed  Treaty,   and 
the  number  of  ships  which  Russia  had  promised 
to  furnish  against  the  common  enemy  in  conse- 
quence of  a  Treaty  which  she  had  recently  con- 


519 

eluded  with  the  Porte  ;  Mr.  Secretary  Nepean 
added,  That  the  protection  of  the  coasts  of  Naples 
and  Sicily  and  an  active  cooperation  with  the 
Austrian  and  Neapolitan  armies,  were  the  objects 
to  which  a  principal  part  of  the  squadron  should 
be  particularly  directed. 

(1798.)  During  Lord  Nelson's  residence  with 
the  Neapolitan  Court  at  Caserta,  his  friendship 
for  Sir  William  and  Lady  Hamilton,  added  to  his 
ill  state  of  health,  led  him  to  indulge  a  confi- 
dence which  was  fatally  adapted  to  mislead  his 
affectionate  disposition  and  to  warp  his  judg- 
ment. In  writing  to  Earl  St.  Vincent,  Nov.  9, 
when  on  the  eve  of  leaving  Caserta,  he  thus  in- 
troduced his  new  secretary :  u  I  believe  Lady 
Hamilton  has  written  so  fullv,  and  I  will  answer 

«/  * 

so  ably,  on  all  subjects,  that  but  little  remains 
for  me  to  say.  Your  commands  respecting  the 
Queen  were  executed  with  so  much  propriety, 
that  if  I  had  never  before  had  cause  for  admira- 
tion it  must  then  have  commenced  :  Her  Lady- 
ship's and  Sir  William's  inexpressible  goodness  to 
me  is  not  to  be  told  by  words,  and  it  ought  to 
stimulate  me  to  the  noblest  actions,  and  I  feel  it 
will.  My  mind  I  know  is  right,  but,  alas,  my 
body  is  weak.  Captain  Thompson's  Action  re- 
flected great  credit  on  the  Leander." 

Lord  Nelson  to  H.  R.  H.  the  Duke  of  Clarence. 
* — "  I  know  my  letter  to  your  Royal  Highness, 
by  the  Leander,  was  lost  by  the  unfortunate  cap- 
ture of  that  ship,  and  I  trust  you  will  forgive  my 


520 

not  writing  so  much  as  my  inclination  in  truth 
prompts  me  to  do;  but  I  find  my  lei't  hand  is  fully 
employed  in  not  only  the  business  of  the  squa- 
dron, but  also  in  working  in  the  good  cause  in 
this  country.  The  army  inarched  Nov.  23d  into 
the  Roman  state  32,000  men.  Five  thousand 
men  embarked  yesterday  on  board  my  squadron, 
destined  to  possess  Leghorn  if  the  Grand  Duke 
wishes  to  preserve  his  dominions  from  plunder 
and  anarchy.  By  possessing  that  port  any  num- 
ber of  troops  and  stores  may  be  pushed  in  a  few 
days  into  Tuscany,  and  if  the  French  leave  Leg- 
horn on  their  left  they  may  be  cut  off. ....  The 
wind  moderates,  and  I  am  going  off  tb  try  and 
sail.  My  heart  is  true  to  the  Good  Cause,  and 
I  wish  to  approve  myself  a  faithful  servant  to  the 
best  of  masters.  May  God  bless  your  Royal 
Highness,  is  the  sincere  prayer  of  your  attached 
and  affectionate  Nelson." 

On  Lord  Nelson's  arrival  at  Naples  Dec.  5th 
from  Leghorn,  a  number  of  persons  overwhelmed 
him  with  odes  and  congratulatory  poems  on  the 
battle  of  the  Nile.  Amongst  the  rest  the  Eng- 
li:h  composition  of  a  mendicant  Irish  priest, 
M'Cormick,  of  the  order  of  St.  Francis,  was 
presented;  which,  though  possessing  little  merit, 
was  remarkable  for  a  passage  that  predicted  the 
talving  of  Rome  by  the  Admiral's  ships.  This 
passage  struck  his  Lordship ;  but  he  represented 
to  the  Friar  the  impossibility  of  getting  ships 
up  the  Tiber  to  act  against  Rome.  The  mendj- 


521 

cant  replied,  /  nevertheless  see  that  it  will  come  to 
pass.  Lord  Nelson  ordered  his  secretary,  Mr. 
Tyson,  to. give  the  poor  man  some  dollars  for  his 
labour  and  good  wishes,  and  for  &  time  the  Friar 
and  his  prediction  were  equally  forgotten. 

(1798.)  On  the  9th  of  October,  Lord  Spencer,, 
in  writing  to  Lord   St.  Vincent  had  said,   "  The 
exception  of  the  first  Lieutenant  of  the  Culloden 
was  necessary,   on  account  of  that  ship  not  hav- 
ing got  into  action    from   the  circumstance  of 
being  aground:  I  am  however  so  fully  convinced 
of  the  merit  both  of  Captain  Tioubridge  and  his 
officers  on  all  occasions,  that  I   beg  you  will  be 
so  good  as  to  give  the  first  vacancy  of  Comman- 
der  that  arises,  to  the  first  Lieutenant   of  the 
Culloden." — The  distinction  thus  made  respect- 
ing the  Culloden's  First  Lieutenant,  was,  as  Lord 
St.  Vincent   himself  observed,   in  promising    to 
pay   it   the    earliest  attention,   a  just   one ;    for 
had  Lord  Spencer  promoted  him  with  the  other*, 
some  future  Commander  in   Chief  might  Inve 
quoted  it  as  a  precedent  for  a  bad  purpose.     Yet 
notwithstanding  this,    and  all   the  previous  con- 
duct of  Earl  St.  Vincent,    Lord  Nelson   had  al- 
ready imbibed,    \vhilst  at  Naples,    the  seeds  of 
distrust   and   suspicion   respecting   his  hitherto 
beloved    Commander  in  Chief:    In    writing   to 
Lady  Nelson  from  that  place  Dec.  11,   he  said, 
*'  I  have  not  received  a  line  from  England  since 
the  first  of  October.     Lord  St.  Vincent  is  in  no 
hurry  to  oblige  me  now :  in  short  I  am  the  en- 


522. 

vied  man,  but  better  that  than  to  be  the  pitied 
one.  Never  mind ;  it  is  my  present  intention 
to  leave  this  country  in  May.  The  poor  Queen 
has  again  made  me  promise  not  to  quit  her  or  her 
family,  until  brighter  prospects  appear  than  do 
at  present.  The  King  is  with  the  army  and  she'is 
sole  Regent ;  she  is  in  fact  a  great  King.  Lady 
Hamilton's  goodness  forces  me  out  at  noon  for 
an  hour.  What  can  I  say  of  her's  and  Sir  Wil- 
liam's attention  to  me  ?  They  are  in  fact,  with 
the  exception  of  you  and  my  good  Father,  the 
dearest  friends  I  have  in  this  world.  I  live  as 
Sir  William's  son  in  the  house,  and  my  glory  is 
as  dear  to  them  as  their  own ;  in  short  I  am  un- 
der such  obligations  as  I  can  never  repay  but 
with  my  eternal  gratitude.  The  improvement 
made  in  Josiah  (Captain  Nisbet)  by  Lady  Ha- 
milton is  wonderful ;.  your  obligations  and  mine 
are  infinite  on  that  score ;  not  but  Josiah's  heart 
is  as  good  and  as  humane  as  ever  was  covered  by 
a  human  breast.  God  bless  him,  I  love  him 
dearly  with  all  his  roughness." 

(1798.)  The  affairs  of  Naples  were  at  this  time 
in  so  desperate  a  state,  that  nothing  more  was 
wanting  to  increase  the  perplexity  and  irritabi- 
lity of  Lord  Nelson.  The  King  had  indeed 
placed  himself  at  the  head  of  his  army,  but  his 
troops  were  led  on  by  General  Mack.  It  is  also 
a  fact  which  was  well  known  to  many  of  the 
English  Captains  in  Lord  Nelson's  squadron, 
that  these  troops  by  whom  the  King  of  Naples 


523 

alone  hoped  to  preserve  his  dominions,  had,  ow- 
ing to  a  strange  fatality,  been  raised  by  a  French 
artillery  officer,  Le  Combe  St.  Michel,  who  had 
acted  his  allotted  part  as  ambassador  from  the 
republic.  Having  received  money  from  the  King 
of  Naples,  he  selected  such  of  his  subjects  as  he 
knew  were  favourably  inclined  towards  the 
French  ;  the  event  therefore  corresponded  with 
this  deep  laid  treachery  :  When  the  King's  army 
approached  the  enemy,  the  flight  of  the  Neapo- 
litans became  general;  their  cannon,  tents,  bag- 
gage and  even  military  chest,  were  all  left  behind 
them.  Dejected  and  overcome  by  what  had 
happened,  the  King  of  Naples  retraced  his  steps, 
and  on  the  14th  of  December,  returned  home. 

(1798.)  It  demanded  the  utmost  caution  and 
much  address  in  Lord  Nelson  to  elude  the  vi- 
gilance of  French  spies,  and  to  avoid  the  suspi- 
cion of  the  Neapolitan  nobles,  so  as  to  secure  the 
safe  retreat  of  the  Royal  Family.  In  this  how- 
ever he  received  very  essential  service  from  the 
English  Ambassador  and  Lady  Hamilton.  At  a 
considerable  risk,  this  extraordinary  and  daring 
woman  had  explored  a  subterranean  passage 
leading  from  the  palace  to  the  sea  side.  One 
of.  the  sentries  was  alarmed  by  a  bell  that  had 
accidentally  been  touched,  and  but  for  the  pre- 
sence of  mind  which  Lady  Hamilton  displayed, 
the  whole  design  would  have  been  frustrated. 
Every  thing  being  at  length  ready  for  the  retreat 
of  the  Royal  Family  from  Naples  to  a  more  se- 


cure  part  of  their  kingdom,  General  Pignatelli 
was  appointed  Vice  Regent ;  and  the  following 
orders  respecting  the  Neapolitan  ships  were  on 
the  22d  of  December,  transmitted  by  Lord  Nel- 
son to  the  Portuguese  Rear  Admiral,  the  Marquis 
de  Niza:  "  Notwithstanding  my  former  orders 
of  yesterday's  date,  you  are  in  the  present  cir- 
cumstances, by  the  very  particular  desire  of 
their  Sicilian  Majesties,  to  obey  the  following 
Instructions:  To  instantly  remove  her  most  faith- 
ful Majesty's  squadron  to  as  great  a  distance 
from  the  town  as  you  can,  and  to  remove  all  the 
Neapolitan  ships  of  war  \vithout  your  ships,  and 
in  case6  of  either  the  entry  of  the  French  troops 
into  Naples,  or  an  insurrection  of  the  people  against 
its  legitimate  government,  in  that  event  you  are 
to  destroy  the  ships  :  but  you  are  not  to  con- 
sider, under  the  present  circumstances,  a  refusal 
to  admit  your  boats  on  shore,  as  an  insurrection 
against  the  government-,  since  it  may  arise  from 
fear  of  the  French,  in  case  they  unfortunately 
should  get  to  Naples.  Given  on  board  the  Van- 
guard at  Naples." 

(1798.)  A  narrative  of  the  subsequent  proceed- 
ings of  Lord  Nelson,  with  some  account  of  what 
had  happened  immediately  previous  to  theremoval 
of  the  Royal  Family,  is  thus  given  by  himself  in 
an  official  Letter  to  Earl  St.  Vincent,  dated  Pa- 
lermo, Dec.  28.  "My  Lord:  For  many  days 

•  The  passage*  in  italics  were  underlined  by  Lord  Nelion. 


previous  to  the  embarkation,  it  was  not  difficult 
to  foresee  that  such  a  thing  might  happen ;  I 
therefore  sent  for  the  Goliath  from  off  Malta, 
and  for  Captain  Troubridge  in  the  Culloden  and 
his  squadron  from  the  north  and  west  coast  of 
Italy,  the  Vanguard  being  the  only  ship  in  Na- 
ples Bay.  On  the  14th  of  December,  the  Mar- 
quis de  Niza  with  three  of  the  Portuguese  squa- 
dron arrived  from  Leghorn,  as  did  Captain  Hope 
in  the  Alcmene  from  Egypt ;  from  that  time  the 
danger  for  the  personal  safety  of  their  Sicilian 
Majesties  was  daily  increasing,  and  new  treasons 
M^ere  found  out,  even  to  the  Minister  of  war. 
The  whole  correspondence  relative  to  this  im- 
portant business,  was  carried  on  with  the  greatest 
address  by  Lady  Hamilton  and  the  Queen,  who 
having  been  in  constant  habits  of  correspon- 
dence, no  one  could  suspect  them.  Lady  Ha^ 
miiton,  from  that  time  to  the  21st,  everv  nio-ht 

»/  O 

received  the  jewels  of  the  Royal  Family,  &c, 
&c.  and  such  clothes  as  might  be  necessary  for 
the  very  large  party  about  to  embark,  to  the 
amount  I  am  confident  of  full  two  millions  five 
hundred  thousand  pounds  sterling.  On  the  18th, 
General  Mack  wrote  that  he  had^no  prospect  of 
Stopping  the  progress  of  the  French,  and  entreated 
their  Majesties  to  think  of  retiring  from  Naples, 
with  their  august  family,  as  expeditiously  as  pos- 
sible. From  that  day  various  plans  were  formed 
for  the  removal  of  the  Royal  Family  from  the  pa- 
lace to  the  water  side.  On  the  19th,  I  received  a 


526 

note  from  General  Acton,  saying  that  the  King 
approved  of  my  plan  for  their  emharkation  ;  du- 
ring that  day,  the  20th,  and  21st  of  December, 
very  large  assemblies  of  people  were  in  commo- 
tion, urd  several  people  were  killed  and  one  was 
dragged  by  the  legs  to  the  palace.  On  the  21st, 
at  half  past  eight  P.  M.  three  barge's  with  my- 
self and  Captain  Hope  landed  at  a  corner  of  the 
arsenal.  I  went  into  the  Palace  and  brought 

c? 

out  the  whole  Royal  Family,  put  them  in  the 
boats,  and  at  half  past  nine  they  were  all  safely 
on  board  the  Vanguard.  I  did  not  forget,  in 
these  important  movements,  that  it  was  my  duty 
not  to  leave  the  chance  of  any  ships  of  war  falling 
into  the  hands  of  the  French,  and  therefore  every 
preparation  had  been  made  for  burning  them  be- 
fore I  sailed;  but  the  reasons  given  me  by  their 
Sicilian  Majesties,  had  induced  me  not  to  destroy 
them  until  the  last  moment.  I  therefore  issued 
my  directions  to  the  Marquis  de  Niza. . .  and 
instructed  him  to  join  me  at  Palermo,  leaving 
one  or  two  ships  to  cruise  between  Capri  and 
Ischia,  in  order  to  prevent  the  entrance  of  any 
English  ships  into  the  bay  of  Naples.  On  the 
23d,  at  seven  P.  M.  the  Vanguard,  Samnite,  and 
Archimedes,  with  about  twenty  sail  of  vessels, 
left  the  bay  of  Naples.  The  next  day  it  blew 
much  harder  than  I  ever  experienced  since  I 
have  been  at  sea:  your  Lordship  will  believe  my 
anxiety  was  not  lessened  by  the  great  charge 
that  was  with  me  ;  but  not  a  word  of  imeasiness 


527 

.escaped  the  lips  of  any  of  the  Roj'al  Family. 
On  the  25th,  at  nine  A.  M.  Prince  Albert,  their 
Majesties'  youngest  child,  having  ate  a  hearty 
breakfast,  was  taken  ill,  and  at  seven  P.  M.  died 
in  the  arms  of  Lady  Hamilton :  and  here  it  is  my 
duty  to  tell  your  Lordship  of  the  obligations 
which  the  whole  Royal  Family,  as  well  as  myself, 
were  under  on  this  trying  occasion  to  her  Lady- 
ship. They  necessarily  came  on  board  without 
a  bed,  nor  could  the  least  preparation  be  made 
for  their  reception.  Lady  Hamilton  provided 
her  own  bed  and  linen,  £c.  and  became  their 
slave;  for,  except  one  man,  no  person  belonging 
to  the  court  assisted  the  Royal  Family.  I  must 
not  omit  to  state  the  kindness  of  Captain  Hardy 
and  of  every  officer  in  the  Vanguard,  all  of  whom, 
readily  gave  up  their  beds  for  the  numerous  per- 
sons attending  the  Royal  Family.  At  three  P.M. 
being  in  sight  of  Palermo,  H.  S.  M.  Royal  stand- 
ard was  hoisted  at  the  maintop-gallant  mast 
head  of  the  Vanguard.  The  Vanguard  anchored 
at  two  A.  M.  December  26,  and  at  five  I  attended 
her  Majesty  and  all  the  Princesses  on  shore;  the 
Queen  being  so  much  affected  by  the  death  of 
Prince  Albert,  that  she  could  not  bear  to  go  on 
shore  in  a  public  manner.  At  nine  A.  M.  his 
Majesty  went  on  shore,  and  was  received  with 
the  loudest  acclamations  and  apparent  joy." 

The  cordiality  which  had  prevailed  between 
the  first  Lord  of  the  Admiralty  and  Lord  Nel- 
son, was  at  the  close  of  1798,  interrupted  by  the 


appointment  of  Captain  Sir  Sidney  Smith  to  co- 
operate with  his  brother  in  the  Mediterranean ; 
and  as  the  irritation  which  this  produced  in  the 
mind  of  Lord  Nelson  has  been  already  laid  before 
the  public,  it  becomes  necessary  to  state  the  fact 
Avith  impartiality  and  correctness.  Ministers  at  that 
time  were  anxious  to  make  the  most  of  the  emo- 
tion and  sensation  which  the  battle  of  Aboukir 
had  excited  in  Turkey,  and  in  consequence  of 
Sir  Sidney  Smith's  former  residence  at  Constan- 
tinople, and  his  near  connexion  with  the  British 
Minister  at  the  Ottoman  Court,  they  had  judged 
it  expedient  to  send  out  this  naval  officer.  Lord 
Spencer,  however,  in  obeying  the  determination 
of  the  Cabinet,  had  added,  with  his  usual  pru- 
dence and  attention  to  the  service,  the  following: 

7  O 

clause  in  his  instructions  f  to  the  Commander  in 
Chief:  "  Should  the  arrangement  of  the  force 
to  remain  for  the  present  in  the  Levant  to  co- 
operate with  the  Turks,  lead  to  there  being  only 
one  or  two  ships  of  two  decks  on  that  service ; 
it  may  be  most  advisable  that,  from  the  local 
and  personal  acquaintance  Sir  Sidney  is  possessed 
of  with  the  Turkish  officers,  he  should  be  the 
senior  officer ;  but  I  have  given  him  to  under- 
stand, that  if  a  large  force  should  be  thought 
necessary,  his  standing  on  the  list  will  not  admit 
of  it;  there  being  so  many  Captains  of  distin- 
guished merit  who  are  his  seniors."  Earl  Spen- 

f  From  the  Nelson  Papers. 


529 

cer  afterwards  explained  his  conduct  on  this 
subject  to  Lord  Nelson,  in  the  most  open  and 
explicit  manner  by  a  private  letter,  dated  March 
12,  1799.  from  which  it  appears,  that  a  very 
great  misunderstanding  had  arisen  respecting  the 
nature  of  Sir  Sidney  Smith's  appointment,  who 
had  been  sent  to  serve  in  the  Mediterranean  en- 
tirely under  Lord  Nelson's  orders. 

From  the  time  of  the  King  of  Sicily's  retreat 
from  his  metropolis  of  Naples,  Lord  Nelson's  ship 
became,  eventually,  his  Majesty's  seat  of  govern- 
ment, whence  the  royal  mandates  were  issued. 
On  the  6th  of  January,  1799,  an  order  was  given 
out  by  the  King,  dated  from  the  Vanguard,  that 
all  Frenchmen  of  whatever  description  should 
leave  the  island  of  Sicily:  and  that  an  English 
transport  of  o'OO  tons  would  be  ready,  on  the  next 
dav,  to  receive  the  French  emigrants.  On  the 

«    '  O 

7th  of  January,  Captain  Troubridge,  who  had  ar- 
rived on  the  5th,  sailed  with  the  Culloden,  The- 
seus, Bull  Dog  and  some  victuallers,  to  Syracuse, 
to  collect  the  bombs  that  were  destined  to  attack 
the  French  ships  in  the  harbour  of  Alexandria, 
and  on  the  yth  he  passed  through  the  Faro 
of  Messina,  and  soon  afterwards  Captain  Louis 
in  the  Minotaur  was  detached  to  protect  Leg- 
horn. 

Nothing  could  be  more  clear  and  honourable 
than  the  conduct  which  both  his  Sicilian  Majesty 
and  Lord  Nelson  pursued  respecting  the  preser- 
vation of  the  Neapolitan  fleet;  which,  on  the 

2 


530 

Marquis  dt  Niza's  being  obliged  to  leave  tbe  bay 
of  Naples,  was  afterwards  intrusted,  with  a  repe- 
tition of  Lord  Nelson's  orders  by  tbe  Marquis,  to 
the  care  of  tbe  Portuguese  Commodore,  Donald 
Campbell,  who  afterwards  felt  himself  compelled, 
in  consequence  of  the  indecision  and  suspicious 
conduct  of  the  Neapolitan  General  Pignatelli,  to 
8  destroy  their  ships. 

(1799-)  The  French,  having  previously  cor- 
rupted and  poisoned  the  good  sense  of  the  higher 
ranks  in  Naples,  entered  that  city  on  the  23d  of 
January,  when  much  resistance  was  made  by  the 
mob.  This  undisciplined  multitude,  consisting 
chiefly  of  loyal  Lazzeroni,  amounted  to  50,000 
men,  and  displayed  considerable  resolution,  even 
when  the  French  army  and  its  artillery  had  ob- 
tained possession  of  the  principal  streets.  Con- 
cealed treachery,  however,  rendered  every  exer- 
tion of  patriotism  ineffectual ;  and  the  subjuga- 
tion of  the  Neapolitans  was,  for  a  time,  com- 
pleted by  the  abject  mummery  and  daring  blas- 
phemy of  the  wretched  ministers  of  their  re- 
ligion :  a  day  being  actually  appointed  for  a 
solemn  Te  Deum,  when  every  one  was  invited  to 
return  thanks  to  the  Most  High  for  the  glorious 
entry  of  the  French  troops.  On  the  27th,  Gene- 
ral Championet  publicly  announced  that  the  Nea- 
politan Monarchy  was  destroyed,  and  a  republic 
established  in  its  stead,  styled  the  Parthenopean ; 

«  fi«c  4to.  Id.  Vol.  ii.  p.  141. 


in  which  Dominico  Cerillo,  late  physician  to  the. 
King,  and  Flavio  Pirelli,  formerly  president  of 
the  royal  chamber,  took  their  allotted  parts. 
The  Prince  of  Moliterni,  who  was  appointed  com- 
mander in  chief,  had  addressed  the  loyal  Lazze- 
roni,  and  had  begged  that  they  would  shoot  him 
if  he  ever  betrayed  their  confidence; h  yet  was 
this  at  the  very  time  when  he  was  intriguing  with 
the  French  to  give  up  the  castles  on  their  ap- 
proach to  Naples :  He  afterwards  accompanied 
the  French  General  to  the  same  Lazzeroni,  and 
desired,  as  their  King  had  abandoned  and  robbed 
them,  that  they  would  now  thank  the  Great 
Nation  for  giving  them  liberty,  and  liberating 
them  from  slavery. — The  Princes  della  Torella 
and  Rocca  Romana,  whose  property  was  v.ery 
great,  also  accepted  of  commissions  in  the  na- 
tional guard. 

During  these  proceedings,  the  King  of  Sar- 
dinia and  his  family,  justly  apprehensive  of  the 
treachery  of  French  friendship,  had  arrived  at 
Florence,  and  were  lodged  in  one  of  the  Grand 
Duke's  palaces,  about  a  mile  without  the  city. 
His  Majesty  intended  to  seek  an  asylum  in  Sar- 
dinia :  feeling  that  an  over  peaceable  disposition 
on  the  part  of  the  Emperor,  or  a  sudden  declara- 
tion of  war,  might-cither  of  them  prove  his  ruin; 
and  that  when  the  French  chose  to  pronounce  it, 
thirty-six  hours  would  at  any  time  be  sufficient 

*  From  the  Nelson  papers. 
2  M  3 


532 

to  accomplish  his  destruction.  His  Majesty 
afterwards  embarked  on  board  a  Danish  frigate 
that  had  arrived  at  Leghorn,  whose  Captain  had 
offered  to  convey  him  safely  to  Cagliari;  and 
which  was  preferred  on  account  of  the  neutrality 
of  Denmark. 

On  the  3d  of  March,  the  King  of  Sardinia  being 
arrived  off  that  island,  published  a  Protest  against 
the  conduct  of  the  French,  dated  from  Cagliari 
roads;  in  which  he  declared,  "  Upon  the  faith 
and  word  of  a  King,  that  he  not  only  had  never 
infringed,  even  in  the  slightest  degree,  the  Trea- 
ties that  had  been  made  with  the  French  repub- 
lic; but  on  the  contrary  had  observed  them  with 
such  scrupulous  exactness,  and  with  such  demon- 
strations of  amity  and  condescension,  as  far  ex- 
ceeded the  obligations  he  had  contracted."' 

(1799-)  On  the  arrival  of  the  expected  convoy 
at  Leghorn,  March  14th,  under  the  care  of  the 
Bellerophon,  the  government  of  Tuscany  became 
greatly  agitated  and  alarmed.  Upwards  of  1000 
Freuch  had  arrived  at  Pistoia,  and  the  same  num- 
ber were  to  follow;  another  body  of  horse  and 
foot,  with  artillery,  had  marched  from  Bologna  to 
Florence,  and  two  French  frigates  were  cruising 
off  Genoa  in  order  to  cooperate  in  an  attack  on 
Leghorn.  The  whole  of  the  French  army  under 
Gauthier  amounted  to  upwards  of  6000  men. 
Mr.  Wyndham  immediately  left  Florence,  and 
wrote  to  Lord  Nelson,  March  1 6,  begging  to  be 
informed,  Whether  amidst  the  variety  of  calls  for 


support,  any  prospect  of  assistance  could  be  pro- 
mised to  the  Grand  Duke  and  the  British  mer- 
chants? In  the  mean  time  Captain  Darby  had 
been  directed  by  his  Excellency,  at  the  urgent 
request  of  the  English  factory,  to  proceed  with 
the  merchant  siJps  to  Sicily,  leaving  only  a  few 
that  were  laden  with  perishable  commodities. 
The  Grand  Duke  firmly  resolved  to  abide  his 
fate ;  but  had  requested  that  an  English  man  of 
war  might  remain  at  Leghorn  to  save  him  and 
the  Royal  Family,  should  the  French  resolve  to 
send  off  H.  R.  II.  by  sea.  "  My  duty,"  added  Mr. 
Wyndham,  March  22,  "is  to  remain  at  my  sta- 
tion, as  long  as  the  Grand  Duke  is  here,  and  you 
may  be  sure  I  shall  not  swerve  from  the  post  of 
honour.  It  is  impossible  to  know  the  intentions 
of  the  French,  we  can  only  guess  at  them  by 
measuring  the  utmost  degree  of  villainy  and  bar- 
barity." A  short  time  after  this,  March  25,  Leg- 
horn was  occupied  by  General  Miollis,  and  Flo- 
rence possessed  by  General  Scherer. 

VIII.  The  Naval  War  on  the  coast  of  Egypt, 
and  the  ineffectual  cooperation  of  the  Turks, 
claimed  also  the  attention  of  Lord  Nelson.  Cap- 
tain Troubridge,  whilst  at  Syracuse,  in  writing 
to  him,  Jan.  23,  said,  "  Ten  French  vagabonds, 
who  belonged  to  a  bombard,  came  here  yesterday 
from  Agosta,  with  one  hundred  and  forty  of  their 
countrymen  from  Alexandria.  Whilst  in  qua- 
rantine, like  true  Frenchmen,  they  insulted 
the  inhabitants ;  and  they  in  return  mas^ 
sacred  the  whole  except  ten,  who  escaped  here. 


534 

I  think  the  people  seem  inclined  to  despatch 
these  the  same  way:  I  tell  them,  it  is  the  only 
cure  for  a  Frenchman.  I  took  two,  and  threat- 
ened to  return  ther»,  which  produced  the  follow- 
ing information:  That  Buonaparte  is  reduced  to 
15,000  men,  and  is  to  tally  surrounded  by  the 
Turks.  These  Frenchmen  described  the  latter 
as  being  like  the  hair  of  their  heads,  always  grow- 
ing." 

Another  object  on  which  the  anxious  mind  of 
Lord  Nelson  was  continually  intent  throughout 
the  whole  of  the  year  1799,  was  the  reduction 
of  the  island  of  Malta,  by  the  vigilance  of  his  dis- 
tinguished associate  Captain  Ball.  "My  chagrin 
and  disappointment,"  wrote  that  officer,  January 
29,  "  at  not  getting  into  la  Valette  are  not  to  be 
described.  It  occasioned  me  a  slight  fever,  of 
•which  I  am  now  recovered.  I  shall  hope  soon  to 
find  out  the  traitor  in  the  Russian  party;  nine 
tenths  of  the  people  wish  to  be  under  the  English 
government.  The  Russians  have  never  sent  any 
ships  here;  and  I  am  certain  the  Maltese  would 
not  listen  to  any  nation,  while  they  have  a  pros- 
pect of  being  protected  by  the  English. — Your 
Lordship  will  hear  from  many  quarters  of  the 
strong  attachment  which  tlfe  Maltese  evince  for 
the  English,  whom  they  esteem  from  principle. 
I  can  answer  that  Malta  would  pay  fourfold  the 
expense  of  maintaining  it,  by  becoming  a  great 
depot  for  the  British  manufactures,  which  may 
be  sent  from  thence  to  Tripoli,  Tunis,  Sicily,  and 
the  coast  to  the  eastward.  The  Maltese  export 


635 

a  great  deal  of  cotton  to  Spain.  Malta  would 
also  be  a  great  check  to  the  Barbary  states,  who 
will  now  stand  more  in  dread  of  us,  and  at  the 
same  time  feel  the  benefit  of  our  trade ;  and 
should  even  Sicily  turn  against  us,  we  could  get 
our  supplies  of  corn  elsewhere,  and  be  such  a 
check  upon  them  as  would  be  of  the  most  essen- 
tial service  to  the  cause  of  his  Sicilian  Majesty. 
March  3J.  Commodore  Campbell  has  behaved, 
whilst  under  my  command,  in  a  manner  that  does 
him  great  credit,  and  I  have  very  great  satisfac- 
tion in  speaking  of  his  officer-like  conduct  upon 
all  occasions.  I  had  also  real  pleasure  in  having 
it  in  my  power  to  do  justice  to  Captain  Nisbet's 
conduct  and  judgment  when  at  Girgenti.  I  am 
very  glad  your  Lordship  has  awakened  the  Bashaw 
of  Tripoli  to  a  sense  of  his  danger,  should  he  al- 
low the  army  of  Buonaparte  to  march  into  his  do- 
minions that  they  may  pass  to  Europe.  The  world 
is  not  sufficiently  acquainted  with  your  Lord- 
ship's masterly  stroke  of  policy,  in  landing  all 
the  French  seamen  and  prisoners  at  Alexandria. 
I  hope  they  will  never  be  permitted  to  return  to 
Europe  until  a  general  peace  takes  place." 

(1799-)  Amongst  the  Neapolitans  who  had  fol- 
lowed their  Sovereign  into  Sicily,  were  two  sub- 
jects of  high  rank,  who  will  occupy  a  considerable 
share  of  attention  in  the  events  that  took  place 
on  the  subversion  of  the  republic  of  Naples. 
These  were  the  Cardinal  Ruffo,  Vicar  Genera 
of  the  Neapolitan  royalists;  and  Commodore 


536 

Francesco  Caraccioli,  a  cadet  of  one  of  the  most 
illustrious  families  in  the  kingdom  of  the  Two 
Sicilies.  This  unfortunate  nobleman  had  heen 
regularly  brought  up  to  their  marine,  and  been 
educated  in  naval  tactics,  even  before  the  ad- 
vancement of  Sir  John  Acton  to  the  head  of  that 
department  at  the  end  of  1778.  Caraccioli  had 
afterwards  been  one  of  the  first  pupils  in  theii4 
marine  college  which  Sir  John  Acton  established 
in  1779;  and  in  that  capacity  had  served  amongst 
the  twelve  foreign  officers,  who  during  the  latter 
part  of  the  American  war  had  been  sent  as  volun- 
teers into  the  British  and  French  squadrons  to 
obtain  experience  in  their,. profession.  On  his  re- 
turn to  Naples,  this  nobleman  had  gradually  risen 
from  the  command  of  a  frigate  to  that  of  the 
Neapolitan  ships. 

About  the  same  time  Cardinal  Ruffo,  Vicar 
General  of  the  royalists,  who  had  been  mentioned 
by  Lord  Nelson,  in  his  letter  to  Earl  St.  Vincent, 
as  collecting  an  army  in  Calabria,  had  left  Pa- 
lermo for  that  purpose.  With  a  character  equally 
questionable  both  as  a  subject  and  a  soldier,  he 
followed  Pignatelli  in  all  his  weak  and  suspicious 
conduct,  until  he  perplexed  and  disgraced  the 
cause  he  had  been  sent  to  support.  On  leaving 
Sicily  he  had  landed  on  the  opposite  coast  with 
his  secretary,  a  priest  named  Spasiana,  and  other 
attendants,  and  had  immediately  joined  some 
Calabrese  who  were  assembled  under  lleggio  Ri- 
naldi.  These  royalists  consisted  chiefly  of  pea- 


537 

santry,  and  being  soon  increased  by  a  motley 
crew  of, galley  slaves,  criminals  from  the  diffe- 
rent gaols,  and  Italian  banditti,  were  divided 
under  three  chiefs,  whose  characters  would  have 
disgraced  any  cause.  Their  troops  were  however 
styled  the  Christian  Army,  and  overcame,  the 
detachments  that  were  sent  against  them. 

(1799-)  In  consequence  of  Lord  Nelson's  ener- 
gy and  direction,  an  immediate  attention  was  paid 
by  the  Sicilian  government  to  the  defence  of  the 
island.  In  addition  to  their  militia  amounting  to 
26,0000,  the  King,  by  means  of  four  regiments  of 
foot  and  one  of  horse,  with  some  artillery  men, 
endeavoured  to  collect^n  additional  number  of 
troops.  Preparations  were  also  made  under  the 
auspices  of  Lord  Nelson,  to  fit  out  gun  boats,  and 
to  mount  the  batteries  with  the  65  twenty-four 
pounders,  that  had  lately  arrived  from  Naples. 
Nine  o;un  boats  were  to  be  launched  during  the 

o  ~ 

month  of  February,  and  others  early  in  March 
at  Palermo;  and  orders  were  issued  to  build  more, 
without  delay,  at  Trapani  and  Messina. — Thus 
could  the  spirit  of  one  man  rouse  the  dejected 
and  enervated  Sicilians  to  a  proper  sense  of  re- 
sistance. And  that  nothing  might  be  wanting  on 
his  part,  Nelson  nobly  offered  the  King  of  Sicily, 
should  other  resources  not  arrive,  To  defend  Afts- 
.s'ma  with  the  ship's  company  of  an  English  man  of 
war.  At  the  beginning  of  March,  the  freedom 
of  the  city  of  Palermo,  which  constituted  him  an 
Honorary  Grandee  of  Spain,  was  presented  to  the 


,    538 

Admiral  in  a  gold  box,  brought  upon  a  silver 
salver.  He  also  about  the  same  time  received  the 
Emperor  of  Russia's  picture,  magnificently  set 
with  diamonds,  with  a  complimentary  note,  which 
has  been  already  inserted  under  the  preceding 
year. j 

(I799-)  On  the  24th  of  February,  the  Russian 
Admiral  Fedar  Ouchakof  informed  Lord  Nelson, 
that  the  fortress  of  Corfu  had  surrendered  to  the 
combined  Russian  aiKl  Turkish  squadrons,  in  con- 
sequence of  the  most  resolute  exertions ;  and 
that  as  soon  as  their  ships  had  received  provisions, 
which  were  daily  expected,  they  should  sail  for 
Brindisi  and  Otranto;  and  coming  along  the 
coast  of  Calabria,  to  succour  and  encourage  the 
inhabitants,  should  proceed  to  Messina.. 

On  the  oth  of  March,  Captain  Troubridge, 
pursuant  to  orders  from  Lord  Nelson,  gave  up 
the  blockade  of  Alexandria  to  Sir  Sidney  Smith; 
leaving  with  him  the  Theseus,  Lion,  and  Torride 
gun  boat,  and  he  was  further  instructed  on  the 
return  of  the  Swiftsure  and  Alliance,  Captain 
Wilmot,  from  Cyprus,  to  despatch  them  to  join 
Lord  Nelson.  In  writing  to  his  Lordship  after- 

» On  the  14th  of  February,  1799,  Lord  Nelson  was  adranced 
Rear  Admiral  of  the  Red.  On  the  20th  of  March  ensuing,  the 
thanks  of  the  East  India  Company  were  voted  to  him  for  the 
Victory  of  Aboukir,  and  a  valuable  aeknowledgment  of  the  im- 
portant benefits  which  the  Company  had  thus  derived,  was  re- 
commended by  the  ger.eral  court  to  the  Directors;  which  being 
referred  to  the  Board  of  Control,  terminated  in  a  vote  of  10,000^. 


wards,  Captain  Troubridge  gave  an  account  of 
the  manner  in  which  he  had  discovered  and  taken 
a  person,  who  had  been  sent  by  Buonaparte  to 
mislead  the  Turks. — '  On  the  14th  of  February,, 
1799,  I  detained  the  caravella  that  had  at  last 
been  permitted  by  the  French  to  leave  Alexan- 
dria: and  having  received  information  from  a 
spy  or:  board  her,  sent  for  the  captain  and  shewed 
him  a  firman  from  the  Grand  Seignior,  taking 
care  not  to  let  him  read  it.  I  told  him  it  was  a 
Hattesherifffor  the  bead  of  a  Traitor:  on  this  he 
appeared  alarmed,  and  acknowledged  he  had  a 
Mons.  Beauchamp  on  board  habited  like  a  Turk, 
and  a  French  pilot.  I  immediately  sent  and 
seized  the  Ambassador,  as  they  called  him,  and 
his  Greek  servant,  and  by  sharpening  an  axe 
and  playing  him  off  with  the  Hattesheriff,  I  so 
alarmed  the  Greek  domestic,  that  he  shewed  us 
where  they  had  concealed  their  instructions  from 
Buonaparte,  on  board  the  caravella.  It  appeared 
to  me  that  the  Grand  Seignior  would  do  this  fel- 
low more  justice  than  we  could ;  I  therefore  sent 
him  in  the  Swiftsure  to  Rhodes,  recommending 
him  strongly  for  kdecapitation.' 

(1799.)  On  the  20th  of  March,  the  Swiftsure 
joined  the  Vanguard  in  the  bay  of  Palermo,  and 
soon  afterwards  arrived  the  Culloden,  Zealous, 
Minotaur,  and  Seahorse.  Lord  Nelson  imme- 

k  See  Quarto  Edit.  Vol.  II.  page  154, 


540 

diately  proceeded  to  lay  before  their  Captains 
the  plan  he  had  formed  for  the  hlockade  of 
Naples  and  their  taking  possession  of  the  islands 
in  that  bay.  This  plan  had  received  the  sanction 
of  the  King  and  his  Ministers  on  the  18th,  and 
had  been  received  with  much  gratitude  by  them; 
who  could  not  but  contrast  the  generous  solici- 
tude of  the  English  Admiral,  .with  the  cold  and 
selfish  apprehensions  of  the  Court  of  Vienna. 
The  King  and  Queen  had,  at  that  time,  received 
both  public  and  private  assurance  from  the  Empe- 
ror and  Empress,  that  when  Ferdinand  should 
think  it  right  to  take  a  decided  part,  he  should 
be  supported.  Mack  himself  had  brought  the 
same  assurance,  which  Thugut  alone  would  not 
openly  support.  Sir  John  Acton  was  therefore 
directed  by  the  King  to  request  the  continuance 
of  Lord  Nelson's  presence  at  Palermo;  and  Sir 
John  also  recommended,  in  the  name  of  their 
Majesties,  that  the  blockade  of  Naples  should  be 
intrusted  to  the  command  and  care  of  the  excel- 
lent Captain  Troubridge,  in  whom  they  placed 
the  highest  confidence.  Accordingly  on  the  31st 
of  March,  the  Culloden,  Zealous,  Minotaur, 
Swiftsure,  St.  Sebastian,  Seahorse,  Perseus,  and 
El  Corso,  proceeded  to  execute  their  Admiral's 
instructions.  On  the  2d  of  April,  having  re- 
ceived the  Governor  of  Procida  on  board,  they 
stood  into  the  bay  of  Naples,  and  anchored  oft" 
that  island.  The  tree  of  liberty  was  immediately 


541 

put  down,  the  French  flag  was  destroyed,  and 
H.  S.  M.  colours  were  hoisted  on  Procida, 
amidst  the  acclamations  of  a  loyal  populace. 

A  very  interesting  and  more  detailed  retro- 
spect of  the  proceedings  of  his  Lordship's  squa- 
dron in  the  bay  of  Naples,  occurs  in  the  letters 
of  Captain  Troubridge,  whence  the  following  ex- 
tracts have  been  taken. — "April  3d.  All  thePonza 
islands  have  the  Neapolitan  flag  flying.  Your 
Lordship  never  beheld  such  loyalty ;  the  people 
are  perfectly  mad  with  joy,  and  are  asking  for 
their  beloved  Monarch.  I  wish  we  had  a  few 
thousand  good  English  troops,  I  would  have  the 
King  of  Naples  on  his  throne  in  forty- eight 
hours.  I  have  a  villain,  by  name  Francesco,  on 
board,  who  commanded  the  castle  at  Ischia, 
formerly  a  Neapolitan  officer  and  of  property  in 
thst  island.  The  moment  we  took  possession  of 
the  castle,  the  mob  tore  this  vagabond's  coat  with 
the  tricoloured  cape  and  cap  of  liberty  button  to 
pieces,  and  he  had  then  the  impudence  to  put  on 
His  Sicilian  Majesty's  regimentals  again;  upon 
which  I  tore  his  epaulet  off,  took  his  cockade  out, 
and  obliged  him  to  throw  them  overboard  :  I 
then  honoured  him  with  double  irons.  The  mob 
entirely  destroyed  the  tree  of  liberty,  and  tore 
the  tricoloured  flag  into  ten  thousand  pieces,  so 
that  I  have  not  been  able  to  procure  even  a  small 
remnant  to  lay  at  the  King's  feet.  I  however 
send  two  pieces  of  the  tree  of  liberty  for  his 
Majesty's  fire,  with  the  names  of  the  people  who 


542 

brought  the  pieces  to  me  painted  upon  them. 
April  gt/i.  Naples  is  in  the  devil  of  a  ferment, 
and  General  M 'Donald  is  much  alarmed,  as  your 
Lordship  will  see  by  the  enclosed  order.  I  have 
two  deserters  from  their  gun  and  mortar  boats; 
who  assure  me,  that  if  the  French  were  to  force 
them  within  gun  shot,  the  crews  would  rise  and 
murder  all  the  French  on  board,  and  bring  the 
boats  over  to  us.  I  enclose  you  one  of  Carac- 
cioli's  letters  as  head  of  the  republican  marine; 
it  was  intercepted  at  Capri.  I  hope  he  has  been 
forced  into  this  measure,  and  should  be  glad  to 
find  him  innocent.  I  have  another  from  Gaeta 
to  Ponza,  sent  by  that  route,  as  he  says  he  could 
not  forward  it  by  the  bay  of  Naples.  Caraccioli 
sent  for  Salvator  Guidice,  the  head  man  of  the 
fishermen  at  St.  Lucia,  and  told  him  he,  must  pro- 
cure seamen  for  the  gun  boats.  Salvator  as- 
sured him  he  would  not  get  one  to  serve  :  Upon 
this  Caraccioli  spoke  harshly  to  .him,  and  the 
fishermen  since  have  declared,  That  if  they  find 
him  to  be  a  Jacobin,  though  always  a  favourite 
and  beloved  by  them,  he  shall  be  the  first  to  fall 
when  they  begin ;  for  every  one  has  his  marked 
Jacobin  to  stiletto.  The  Judge  is  arranging  his 
papers;  tomorrow,  the  ]  4th,  he  begins.  I  have 
given  him  good  advice;  he  appears  to  me  to  be 
the  poorest  creature  I  ever  saw,  and  to  be  fright- 
ened out  of  his  senses.  He  declares  that  seventy 
families  are  concerned,  and  talks  of  its  being 
necessary  to  have  a  bishop  to  degrade  the  priests, 


£43 

before  he  can  execute  them.  I  told  him  to  hang 
them  first,  and  if  he  did  not  think  that  degrada- 
tion sufficient,  to  send  them  afterwards  to  me.  I 
recommended  him  to  punish  the  principal  Trai- 
tors, the  moment  he  had  passed  sentence.  I  am 
assured  by  all  the  sailors,  that  Caraccioli  is  not  a 
Jacobin,  but  has  been  forced  to  act  as  he  does. 
They  sign  his  name  to  printed  papers,  without  his 
authority;  as  in  my  opinion  they  have  the  Arch- 
bishop's. April  18.  The  Judge  made  an  offer 
two  days  since,  if  I  wished  it,  to  pass  sentence; 
but  hinted  that  it  would  not  be  regular  on  some. 
I  declined  having  any  thing  to  do  with  it.  By 
his  conversation  I  found  his  instructions  were  to 
go  through  it  in  a  summary  manner,  and  under 
me.  I  told  him  the  latter  must  be  a  mistake,  as 
they  were  nttt  British  subjects.  The  odium  I  find 
is  intendeldrto  be  thrown  on  us.  I  will  outma-" 
nceuvre  him  there,  and  push  him  hard  too. 
May  \ .  Caraccioli,  I  am  now  satisfied,  is  a  Jaco- 
bin. I  enclose' you  one  of  his  letters.  He  came 
in  the  gun  boats  to  Castellamare  himself,  and 
spirited  up  the  Jacobins." 

ft  May  7.  I  have  just  had  a  long  conversation 
with  the  Judge.  He  tells  me  he  shall  finish  his 
business  next  week ;  and  that  the  custom  with  his 
profession  is  to  return  home  the  moment  they 
have  condemned.  He  says,  he  must  be  embarked 
immediately,  and  hinted  at  a  man  of  war.  I 
found  also  from  his  conversation,  that  the  priests 
must  be  sent  to  Palermo  to  be  disgraced  bv  the 


544 

King's   order,    and    then    returned  for    execu- 
tion   to   this  place.     An  English  man  of  war  to 
perform  alt  this:  at  the  same  time  making  appli- 
cation tome  for  a  hangman,   which  I  positively 
refused.     If  none  could  be  found  here,  1  desired 
he  would    send   for  one  from   Palermo.     I  see 
their  drift;  they  want  to  make  us  the  principals, 
and  to  throw  all  the  odium  upon  us,  The  distress 
for  bread  in  Jschia  is  so  great,  that  it  would  move 
even  a  Frenchman  to  pity.     Cannot  a  subscrip- 
tion be  opened?  I  beg  to  put  my  name  down  for 
twenty  ducats;  I  cannot  afford  more,  or  I  would 
give  it.     I  feed  all  I   can  from  a  large  private 
stock  I  had,  but  that  will  not  last  long.    No  fault 
shall  attach  to  us.     Palermo  is  full  of  grain,  as  is 
the  neighbourhood :  the    French,    I   fear,    have 
more  interest  there  than  the  King.     I  have  put 
the  palace  in  this  island  into  a  good  state  of  de- 
fence, and  got  six  guns  up,  with  plenty  of  grape 
and    canister.       If  the   enemy   attempt  it,    we 
shall  certainly  break  some  of  their  shins.     To 
strengthen  the  whole  I  have  landed  fifty  marines 
and  twelve  gunners,   dug  a  ditch  on  the  road  to 
the  gate,  and  levelled  all  the  ground  about,  and 
broke  part  of  the  steps,  and  fixed  a  ladder  to  be 
drawn  up  at  sun  set.  I  hope  your  Lordship,  when 
you  come  this  road,   will  approve  of  our  Engi- 
neering,   The  expense  is  nothing  worth  mention- 
ing.    The  Enemy  have  ordered  101)  gun  boats  to 
be    built    to  drive    us    away ;     before   they  are 
a!,   1  hope    v»e  shall   be  in  Naples.     The 


545 

examples  of  villains  and  cowards  which  the  Arch- 
duke has  made,  has  driven  away  my  melancholy 
fever:  I  send  the  General  from  Longone  and 
Orbitello,  for  the  King  of  Naples  to  follow  such 
an  example.  As  he  is  in  the  service  of  another 
Sovereign,  I  submit  to  your  Lordship,  if  we  had 
not  better  leave  them  to  themselves.  If  this 
Colonel,  who  at  present  commands  here,  is  presi- 
dent, the  General  will  be  shot:  should  that  be  his 
sentence,  shall  I  confirm- it?  My  hand  would  not 
shake  at  signing  my  name.  May  11.  It  is  with, 
deep  concern  I  inform  your  Lordship,  that  a 
spirit  of  Sedition  has  begun  to  shew  itself  amongst 
the  Swiss.  I  have  great  reason  to  think  it  arose 
from  the  price  of  meat  being  much  higher  here 
than  at  Palermo,  and  the  King's  not  allowing 
more  pay  a  day  .  . .  Your  Lordship  will  see  by 
the  Sentence  of  Death  which  was  passed,  that 
we  do  not  mean  to  suffer  the  smallest  relaxation 
of  Discipline;  but,  in  consequence  of  their  good 
conduct  before,  and  nothing  more  than  murmurs 
being  proved,  I  took  upon  myself  to  remit  the 
Sentence  of  Death,  and  send  them  to  Palermo  as 
subjects  for  the  gallies.  The  men  were  all  drawn 
up  in  a  square  formed  by  the  troops  and  marines, 
with  their  eyes  bound,  and  all  the  ceremony  was 
gone  through,  except  firing;  when  I  directed  the 
pardon  to  be  read:  One  of  them  was  almost  gone 
before  it  was  finished.  I  trust  it  will  have  a  good 
effect.  May  14.  You  will  see,  my  Lord,  by  the 
enclosed  translation  of  Prince  Trabia's  letter, 


546 

that  his  Majesty  has  ordered  a  Court  Martial  to 
try  Marshal  Yauch ;  but  as  there  are  only  four 
Officers  here  of  the  rank  qualified  to  sit,  accord- 
ing to  the  Neapolitan  laws,  I  think  he  cannot 
legally  be  tried,  until  his  Majesty  sends  over 
three  more  Officers.  In  the  mean  time  I  have 
directed  the  General  to  be  put  under  arrest,  and 
the  depositions  to  be  taken,  that  the  trial  may 
be  short  when  it  begins:  this  mode  is  perfectly 
regular  in  their  service,,  All  that  is  to  be  done, 
when  a  witness  is  called  after  this,  is  to  ask, 
whether 'the  written  paper  read  be  his  evidence? 
and  a  few  other  questions  that  may  arise.  I  trust 
your  Lordship  will  explain  to  his  Majesty,  that 
we  have  every  inclination  to  comply  with  his 
orders:  In  this  instance  I  think  it  impossible." 

(1799-)  During  these  arduous  Operations  of 
the  Squadron  under  Captain  Troubridge,  H.B.M. 
sloop  1'Espoir  had  arrived  on  the  12th  of  May, 
at  Palermo,  with  the  important  information,  that 
the  French  fleet  had  been  seen  off  Oporto.  On, 
the  13th  of  the  same  month,  at  nine  o'clock  in 
the  evening,  the  lieutenant  of  the  Peterell  had 
also  arrived  at  Palermo,  by  land,  the  sloop  not 
having  been  able  to  get  up ;  with  the  additional 
intelligence  which  had  been  received  from  Cap- 
tain Styles,  that  thirty-five  sail  of  the  enemy  had 
passed  the  Straits  during  the  evening  of  the 
5th,  and  had  gone  up  the  Mediterranean.  Lord 
Nelson,  on  hearing  this,  immediately  sent  a  letter 
to  Captain  Troubridge,  desiring  him  to  join  with 


547 

all  the  ships  of  the  line  under  his  command,  and, 
if  possible,  with  a  frigate. 

(1799-)  The  objects  of  the  Enemy,  who  had 
thus  escaped  the  vigilance  of  Lord  Bridport  owing 
to  a  strong  gale  and  a  thick  fog,  were  to  unite 
with  the  whole  Spanish  naval  force  ;  to  proceed 
to  Toulon  in  order  to  embark  troops  there ;  and, 
with  them,  to  act  successively  upon  Minorca, 
Naples,  and  Sicily.  The  account  which  Lord 
Nelson  had  received  from  Carthagena  was,  that 
the  French  fleet  which  had  entered  the  Mediter- 
ranean, consisted  of  twenty-four  sail  of  the  line, 
six  frigates,  and  three  sloops.  His  anxious  si- 
tuation on  first  hearing  of  the  sailing  of  this 
powerful  force  from  Brest,  is  described  by  him- 
self in  writing  to  Earl  St.  Vincent,  May  13. 
"  What  a  state,  my  dear  Lord,  am  I  in.  If  I  go, 
J  risk  and  more  than  risk  Sicily,  and  what  is  now 
safe  on  the  continent;  for  we  know,  from  expe- 
rience, that  more  depends  on  opinion  than  on  acts 
themselves.  As  I  stay,  my  heart  is  breaking, 
and  to  mend  the  matter  I  am  seriously  unwell." — 
The  spirit,  however,  of  this  great  Warrior  always 
rose  in  proportion  to  the  approach  of  the  danger 
with  which  he  had  to  contend.  On  hearing:, 

O' 

afterwards,  that  the  French  fleet  had  actually 
entered  the  Mediterranean,  he  at  first  prepared 
with  the  Vanguard,  the  only  ship  then  lying  in 
the  bay  of  Palermo,  to  give  them  a  warm  recep- 
tion and  to  defend  his  post  to  the  last.  When 
he  had  at  length  collected  some  of  his  ships,  he 
2  N  g 


548 

was  detained  by  a  gale  of  wind;  which  continued 
blowing  from  the  E.  S.  E.  until  the  20th,  on 
which  clay  he  left  Palermo,  and  sailed  with  the 
Vanguard,  Culloden,  Zealous,  Minotaur,  Haer- 
lem,  St.  Sebastian,  and  a  Portuguese  corvette, 
the  Swallow.  "  I  have  only,"  wrote  he  to  Earl  St. 
Vincent,  May  23,  "  to  remain  on  the  northern 
side  of  Maretimo  to  keep  covering  Palermo, 
which  shall  be  defended  to  the  last.  Your  Lord- 
ship may  depend  that  the  squadron  under  my 
command  shall  never  fall  into  the  hands  of  the 
enemy;  and  before  we  are  destroyed,  I  have  lit- 
tle doubt  but  they  will  have  their  wings  so  com- 
pletely clipped,  that  they  may  be  easily  over- 
taken." 

Whilst  Lord  Nelson  and  the  Officers  of  his 
squadron  were  anxiously  awaiting  the  uncertain 
result  of  a  contest  with  an  enemy  so  greatly  su- 
perior, resolving  with  their  illustrious  Chief  that 
the  glory  of  their  perilous  night  at  Aboukirj 
should  not  be  sullied  off  Maretimo;  Captain 
Hallowell  had  sent  a  present  to  Lord  Nelson  of  a 
Coffin,  every  part  of  which  had  been  actually 
made  of  the  wood  and  iron  from  a  piece  of  the 
main  mast  of  1'Orient,  that  had  been  taken  up  by 
the  Swiftsure  before  she  left  her  station  off  Alex- 
andria. The  Coffin  was  accompanied  with  the 
following  note:  "Swiftsure,  May  23.  My  Lord: 
Herewith  I  send  you  a  Coffin  made  of  part  of 
1'Orient's  main  mast;  that  when  you  are  tired  of 
this  life  you  may  be  buried  in  one  of  your  own 


549 

trophies;  but  may  that  period  be  far  distant,   is 
the   sincere  wish   of  your   obedient   and   much 
obliged  servant,  Ben.  Hallo-well" — The  astonish- 
ment that  prevailed  amongst  the  ship's  company, 
when   they    were  actually   convinced   it   was  a 
Coffin  which  had  been  thus  conveyed  on  board, 
will  be  long  remembered  by  their  Officers :  We 
shall  have  hot  work  of  it  indeedf  said  one  of  the 
old  Agamemnons,  you  see  the  Admiral  intends  to 
Jight  till  he  is  killed,  and  there  he  is  to  he  buried. 
Lord  Nelson  afterwards  placed  it  upright  with 
the  lid  on  against  the  after  division,  or  bulkhead 
of  his  cabin,  behind  the  chair  where  he  sat  at  din- 
ner, and  viewed  it  with  the  undaunted  mind  of  a 
great  warrior. — There  had  been,  however,  an  ex- 
traordinary gloom  and   depression  of  mind  for 
some  time  visible  in  his  Lordship,  which  too  much 
corresponded  with  the  present  he  had  received. 
Notwithstanding  all  his  honours  and  all  his  glory, 
Nelson  was  becoming  dissatisfied   with  himself, 
and  the  irritability  and  misery  which  this  gra- 
dually occasioned,  appear  in  many  of  his  subse- 
quent letters. 

(1799.)  In  writing  May  28,  when  off  Trapano, 
to  Earl  St.  Vincent,  he 'said,  "Pray  Godsend 
you  success  against  the  Dons;  for  I  hope  the 
French  are  got  into  Toulon,  and  are  not  near 
enough  to  prevent  your  conquest.  Your  Lord- 
ship is  acquainted  with  my  intention  of  raising 
the  blockade  of  Malta,  and  of  uniting  my  whole 
force  off  Maretimc.  I  have  not  yet  heard  from 


550 

Captain  Ball,  what  he  has  done  in  consequence; 
therefore  we  are  completely  on  our  guard.  On 
your  leaving  me  to  act  as  I  thought  best,  from 
the  situation  of  affairs,  I  have  determined  to  carry 
my  squadron  back  to  Palermo  to  complete  their 
provisions  to  six  months,  and  be  in  momentary 
readiness  to  proceed  as  you  may  order;  leaving 
in  the  ha-  of  Naples,  Seahorse,  Perseus,  Bull 
Dog,  Mutine,  and  San  Leon  to  protect  the  islands, 
which  would  fall  the  moment  our  ships  were 
withdrawn. 

"  Palermo,  May  30.  The  Vanguard  anchored 
here  yesterday;  but  it  has  been  so  calm,  that, 
except  the  Emerald,  none  have  yet  got  in.  After 
two  days  I  hope  they  will  all  be  as  ready  for  ser- 
vice as  our  means  allow  of.  I  have  our  dear 
Troubridge  for  my  assistant,  in  every  thing  we 
are  brothers.  Hood  and  Hallowell  are  as  active 
and  good  as  ever:  not  that  I  mean  to  say  any  are 
otherwise;  but  you  know  these  are  men  of  re- 
sources. Hardy  was  bred  in  the  old  school,  and, 
1  can  assure  you,  that  I  never  have  been  better 
satisfied  with  the  real  good  discipline  of  a  ship 
than  the  Vanguard's.  June  6.  It  is  not  yet  de- 
cided, but  it  is  probable,  that  in  forty-eight 
hours  we  may  sail  for  the  bay  of  Naples,  in  order 
to  replace  II.  S.  Majesty  on  the  throne." 

The  health  of  Earl  St.  Vincent  continuing  in  a 
very  dangerous  state,  rendered  his  return  indis- 
pensable, lie  remained,  however,  in  consequence 
of  the  circumstances  that  had  taken  place  in  the 


551 

Mediterranean,   until  the   apprehensions  which 
had  arisen  from  the  appearance  of  the  Enemy's 
squadrons  had  in  some  measure  subsided.     On 
the  31st  of  May,  in  consequence  of  the  damages 
which  the  Spanish   fleet  had  sustained,    he  had 
been   enabled   to  detach   Admiral  Duckworth  to 
Lord  Nelson,  with  the  Leviathan,  Northumber- 
land, Foudroyant,  and  Majestic.     On  the  arrival 
of  this  reinforcement   his  Lordship  quitted  the 
Vanguard,  and  shifted  his  flag  on  board  the  Fou- 
droyant.    On  the  7th  of  June  he  was  advanced 
Rear  Admiral  of  the  Red.     On  the  2 1st  of  June, 
two   days  before    Earl  St.  Vincent  sailed   from 
Mahon  for  England  in  the  Argo,    he  took  this 
farewell  of  Nelson.     "  A  thousand  thanks,  my 
dear  Lord,  for  a  number  of  kind  letters,  that  of 
the  6th  inst.  startles  me ;  being  very  apprehensive 
the  Court  of  Sicily  is  deceived  as  to  the  disposi- 
tion of  the  Neapolitans,  who  have  proved  them- 
selves unworthy  of  trust  and  confidence;   and 
the  island  of  Sicily  will  be  exposed  to  great  ha- 
zard by  your  removal.     I  can  give  you  no  posi- 
tive   instructions   in    the    present    uncertainty, 
touching  the  operations  of  the  French:   there- 
fore the.  next  best  thing  is  to  leave  you  to  your 
own  excellent  judgment.      God   bless  you,    my 
dear  Lord,  and  send  us  peace,  that  we  may  meet 
again  before   I  depart  this  world;    in   which,    I 
trust,   there  is  great  store  of  happiness  for  Lady 
Nelson  and  yourself.     That  every  blessing  may 
be  long  continued  to  you,  is  the  devout  wish  of 


552 

• 
your  Lordship's  truly  affectionate,  St.  Vincent." 

— His  Lordship  had  previously,    on  the  loth  of 
June,  given  up  the  command  to  Lord  Keith. 
Anno  ix.    The  Transactions  in  the  Bay  of 

JT/taU  41. 

Naples  during  the  summer  of  1799,  have 
been  much  discussed  both  at  home  and  abroad; 
and,  owing  to  the  perversion  of  facts,  not  generally 
with  that  candour,  or  even  accuracy,  which  the 
very  peculiar  difficulty  or'  the  service  appears  to 
have  demanded.  The  leading  actor  in  these  ex- 
traordinary Transactions,  and  the  cause  of  the 
principal  odium  that  ensued,  was  Cardinal  F. 
Ruffo,  his  Sicilian  Majesty's  Vicar  General.  Not- 
withstanding the  Cause  he  had  espoused,  and  the 
general  loyalty  of  the  lower  classes  of  the  people, 
Ruffo  was  never  at  any  time  seen  in  the  front  of 
his  troops.  Naturally  a  coward,  he  acted,  with 
all  the  selfishness  and  indecision  of  such  a  cha- 
racter. Although  the  orders  he  had  received 
from  his  Royal  Master  peremptorily  commanded 
him  not  to  treat  with  Rebels,  and  more  especially 
with  Traitors  of  high  rank  whose  ingratitude 
demanded  exemplary  punishment ;  the  Cardinal 
gradually  became  inclined,  like  Pignatelli,  to 
modify  and  alter  his  instructions.  This  particu- 
larly appeared  in  a  letter  dated  April  29,  which 
he  sent  from  his  then  head  quarters  a£  Policoro 
to  the  Governor  of  Procida. — "  I  could  not,'* 
said  his  Excellency,  "  advance  on  the  side  of 
Salerno,  because  the  capture  of  Brindisi,  and,  I 
might  also  say,  the  loss  of  the  provinces  of  Lecce, 


553 

Bari,  and  Matera,  obliged  me  to  march  towards 
the  Adriatic,  with  a  view  of  restoring  those  pro- 
vinces, to  our  Sovereign.  Previous  to  my  ad- 
vancing towards  Naples,  it  will,  I  think,  be  requi- 
site for  me  to  reconquer  in  great  measure  every 
part  of  the  kingdom ;  which  would  necessarily 
deprive  all  those  of  their  resources  and  provi- 
sions, who  mav  continue  in  rebellion  :  I  do  not, 
j 

however,"  added  the  Cardinal,  "intend  to  make 
great  exertions  in  the  Upper  Provinces  on  the 
side  of  Rome,  As,  according  to  my  ideas,  tee  must 
not  drive  tke  principal  Jacobins  at  Naples  to  de- 
spair, but  mutt  rather  leave  them  the  means  of 
escape."  The  conclusion  of  the  Cardinal's  letter 
completely  illustrates  the  spirit  and  cause  of  his 
operations  when  he  reached  Naples.  It  is  ob- 
vious, that  with  an  idea  of  recovering  that  Me- 
tropolis without  much  personal  risk,  or  indeed 
odium  from  the  Republicans  of  high  rank  and 
connexions,  he  had  determined  to  act  towards 
them  with  what  Captain  Troubridge  denominated 
the  true  Neapolitan  Shuffle :  a  conduct  highly 
disgraceful  to  his  sacred  character,  and  involving 

^j  *  ^y 

the  professional  integrity  of  those  English  Naval 
Officers  who  had  the  misfortune  to  be  associated 
with  him.  With  these  ideas  in  his  mind,  Ruffb 
continued  to  advance  with  his  army  towards 
Naples.  Having,  with  the  assistance  of  the 
English  ships,  taken  possession  of  Caprea  and 
Castellamare,  he  approached  the  metropolis,  and 
took  the  forts  on  the  side  by  Mount  Vesuvius, 


554 

of  which  Ponte  de  Maddelena  was  the  most  con- 
siderable. He  then  endeavoured  to  get  posses- 
sion of  the  Castles  Uovo  and  Nuovo,  which 
command  the  anchorage  in  the  bay  of  Naples, 
where  all  the  principal  Traitors  in  the  whole 
kingdom  of  the  Two  Sicilies  had  retired  for 
shelter. 

The  Cardinal,  in  all  these  proceedings,  had 
been  very  powerfully  supported  by  the  detached 
Squadron  which  Lord  Nelson  had  sent  into  the 
bay  of  Naples :  At  first  under  the  command  of 
Captain  Troubridge,  and  afterwards  of  Captain 
Hood  ;  and,  when  both  those  officers  had  left 
the  station  to  reinforce  their  Admiral  against  the 
French  fleet,  the  command  had  devolved,  with  a 
very  inferior  force,  on  Captain  Edward  James 
Foote  of  the  Seahorse,  whose  professional  charac- 
ter had  been  long  established  for  ability  and  in- 
tegrity. From  the  Memoir '  which  that  Officer 
afterwards  drew  up  of  his  subsequent  conduct, 
for  the  information  of  Lord  Nelson,  and  the  va- 
rious letters  he  has  since  been  obliged  to  publish 
in  consequence  of  a  shameful  attack  on  his  pro- 
fessional conduct  in  the  bay  of  Naples,  consider- 
able light  has  been  thrown  on  this  subject. 

t(179°")  "  I  shall  not."  says  Captain  Foote,  "  no- 
tice the  various  letters  I  received  from  the  Carcli- 


1  See  a  pamphlet,  since  become  scarce,  published  bj  Captain 
Foote  in  ISO/,  entitled,  A  Vindication  of  his  Conduct  in  the  baj 
of  Naples,  in  the  summer  of  1799. 


555 

nal ;  they  will  prove,  if  investigated,  how  very 
little  he  knew  about  the  force  that  was  under 
my  orders,  or  what  was  possible  to  be  done  by  a 
few  small  ships  of  war;  and  that  he  kept  advanc- 
ing without  any  fixed  plan  or  project,  trusting 
entirely  to  the  chapter  of  accidents.  On  the 
evening  of  June  13th,  the  Cardinal,  or  rather  the 
Russians,  took  the  fort  of  Villemaancl  the  bridge 

'  O 

of  Madalena.  On  the  14th  the  weather  was 
bad,  and  it  was  not  uritil  the  15th,  the  day  the 
galleys  joined  me,  that  I  could  venture  so  deep 
into  the  Baym  as  the  Castles  of  Revigliano  and 
Castellamare,  which  capitulated. ...  On  the  17th 
I  informed  the  Cardinal,  that  I  should  imme- 
diately join  the  gun  boats  and  mortar  boats  at 
Piedi  Grotta,  with  those  given  up  at  Castella- 
mare, with  a  view  of  attacking  Castle  Uovo. 
On  the  1 8th  I  sent  Captain  Oswald  of  the  Per- 
seus with  a  letter  to  the  Commandant  of  Castle 
Uovo,  in  the  hope  of  its  opening  the  \vay  to  a 
negociation.  The  very  insolent  verbal  answer 
which  I  received  was,  Arous  voulous  la  Republique 
une  et  indivisible,  nous  mourom  pour  die :  Voila 
notre  rtponse,  eloignez  vous  Citoyen,  vite  !  vitc  ! — • 
I  made  the  Cardinal  acquainted  with  this,  and  that 
it  was  my  intention  to  attack  the  Castle  by  every 
means  in  my  power;  to  which  his  Excellency 
replied,  That  it  was  no  longer  time  to  hearken  to 

m  With  the  Seahorse,  Perseus,  Captain  Oswald ;  Neapolitan 
frigate  Sirena,  Don  Diego  Naselli  j  the  galleys  Felico,  Altiva, 
Alerta  j  and  two  gun  boats. 


556 

Capitulations,   and  that  it  became  necessary  to 
think  seriously  of  attacking  Fort  St.  Elmo. 

"  The  next  day,  June  19th,  to  my  great  sur- 
prise, I  received  a  letter  from  the  Cardinal  re- 
questing me  to  cease  hostilities,  and  not  to  re- 
commence them  whilst  the  flag  of  truce  was 
flying,  as  a  Negociation  had  taken  place.  The 
same  night  I  sent  an  Officer  to  the  Cardinal  with 
the  following  letter." — '  I  consider  it  my  duty  to 
inform  your  Eminency,  that  so  long  an  Armistice 
may  prove  very  prejudicial  to  the  interest  of  his 
Sicilian  Majesty.  As  my  Sovereign  is  a  princi- 
pal Ally  of  the  King  of  the  Two  Sicilies,  I  claim 
a  right  to  be  made  acquainted  with  the  subject 
of  the  present  Treaty  ;  as  I  am  extremely  anxi- 
ous to  learn,  before  night,  how  I  am  to  conduct 
myself:  since,  if  the  Rebels  are  not  treating  for 
a  Capitulation,  I  see  no  reason  why  the  firing 
on  them  should  not  recommence  at  sun-set.' — 
The  Cardinal  sent  word  back . . .  '  Your  Excel- 
lency seems  to  think  that  the  delay  may  be  dan- 
gerous: I  rather  believe  that  in  the  present 
situation  of  affairs  it  cannot  be  otherwise  than 
favourable  to  us.  We  are  rather  afraid,  that  the 
Treaty  may  be  interrupted  by  the  Castle  being 
stormed  by  the  people,  as  the  Castle  is  all  open, 
and  the  Calabrese  have  already  penetrated  it. 
It  does  not  appear  to  me,  therefore,  that  they 
can  entertain  any  reasonable  hopes  of  rendering 

»  Vindication,  page  148. 


557 

our  position  less  favourable  by  delay.     As,  how- 
ever,  the  Treaty  is  principally  carried  on  in  the 
name  of  the  Russians,   I  send  your  letter  to  Mi- 
cheroux,  that  he  may  reply,  as  he  thinks  proper, 
to  your  Excellency.' — Not  receiving  a  line  from 
the  Chevalier   de   Micheroux,    I   informed   the 
Cardinal  that  I  thought  nothing  could  be  more 
prejudicial  to  the  interest  of  his  Sicilian  Majesty, 
than  the  having  such  a  multiplicity  of  Chiefs  ; 
and  that  I  knew  of  no  other  than  his  Eminency, 
who  was  specially  charged  with  the  interests  of 
the  King  of  Naples,    and  that  I  could  act  with 
no  other  person.     The  Cardinal  told  the  Officer 
whom  I  sent,   that  he  knew  nothing  of  what  was 
going  on;   that  he  stood  in  great  need  of  the  aid 
of  the  Russians,   that  he  would  not  give  them 
the  least  ground  for  complaint,   and  that  it  was 
the  Russians  who  conducted   the  Treaty.     On 
the  l^th  I  received  a  project  of  a  Capitulation 
already  signed  by  the  Cardinal  and  the  Chief  of 
the  Russians,    with  a  request  that  I    would  put 
my  name  to  it.     In  answer  I  informed  the  Car- 
dinal, that  I  had  done    so,    because  /  considered 
him  as  the  confidential  agent  of  his  Sicilian  Ma- 
jesty ;    and   that  some   advantage   would   result 
from  the  Capitulation,   otherwise  he  would  not 
have  signed  it:  but  I  could  not  say  I  approved 
of  such  a  manner  of  treating,  and  that  I  could  not 
be  answerable  for  its  consequences.     At  length  on 
the  22d  I  received  a  letter  from  the  Chevalier  de 
Micheroux,  with  the  Capitulation  in  form,  al- 


558 

ready  signed  by  the  Cardinal  and  the  Chief  of 
the  Russians.  I  signed  this  Capitulation,  lest  on 
a  reverse  of  fortune,  or  the  arrival  of  the  ene- 
my's fleet,  it  might  have  been  asserted,  that  my 
refusal  was  the  cause  of  such  misfortunes  as  might 
occur,  and  because  I  considered  that  the  Cardinal 
was  acquainted  with  the  will  and  intention  of  his 
Sovereign" 

(1799-)  The  utter  perversion  of  the  will  of 
their  Sovereign,  which  the  Cardinal  and  the 
Neapolitan  Officers  who  acted  with  him  had  thus 
in  part  accomplished,  in  order  to  save  some  Trai- 
tors of  rank  and  fortune  in  the  Castles  of  Uovo 
and  Nuovo,  was  rendered  still  more  infamous  by 
their  afterwards  endeavouring  to  involve  the 
character  of  Captain  Foote,  and  eventually  that 
of  Lord  Nelson  and  his  Country,  in  all  the  odium 
that  had  resulted  from  these  intrigues  of  the 
Cardinal.  When  he  least  expected  it,  to  the 
confusion  of  himself  and  of  his  adherents,  who 
had  thus  hoped  to  secure  the  accomplishment  of 
their  fraudulent  intentions,  Lord  Nelson  on  the 
24th  of  June,  with  seventeen  sail  of  the  line, 
with  the  Prince  Royal  on  hoard  the  Foudroyant, 
and  with  1700  troops  in  the  squadron,  entered 
the  bay  of  Naples,  about  thirty-six  hours  after 
Captain  Foote  had  acceded  to  the  Capitulation. 
On  his  Lordship's  arrival  a  flag  of  truce  was  fly- 
ing on  the  Castles  of  Uovo  and  Nuovo,  and  on 
board  the  Seahorse,  Captain  Foote,  as  there  had 
not  been  sufficient  time  to  execute  the  conditions 


559 

of  the  Capitulation.  His  Lordship  feeling  that 
Captain  Foote  had,  by  the  treacherous  misrepre- 
sentations of  the  Cardinal,  been  led  to  sign  a 
Treaty  of  Capitulation  which  militated  against 
the  intentions  of  the  King  of  Naples,  immediately 
threw  out  the  annulling  signal,  and,  acting  under 
the  authority  of  the  King,  declared  the  Treaty 
to  be  invalid.  The  Rebels  °  then  surrendered,  to 
use  his  own  words,  to  the  mercy  of  their  Sove- 
reign, without  any  capitulation,  and  marched  out 
as  prisoners ;  and  the  Castles  were  taken  posses- 
sion of,  fourteen  days  before  the  King's  arrival. 

Lord  Nelson,  it  appears,  could  not  in  his  own 
opinion  have  acted  otherwise  than  he  did,  with- 
out compromising  the  Honour  of  that  Sovereign 
whose  authority  and  orders  his  Lordship  had  re- 
ceived such  implicit  directions,  from  his  govern- 
ment, to  consider  as  a  principal  object  during 
his  services  in  the  Mediterranean.  Every  thing, 
however,  that  the  disappointed  spirit  of  republi- 
canism and  French  sophistry  could  invent,  was 
Sedulously  employed  to  throw  the  whole  odium 
of  what  had  passed  on  the  British  Admiral.  What- 
ever difference  of  opinion  may  remain  in  the 
minds  of  many  persons  respecting  this  decisive 
measure,  it  is  certain  that  the  Admiral  himself 
was  entirely  satisfied  with  the  necessity  and  jus- 
tice of  his  conduct. — It  is  assuredly  a  subject  of 
great  delicacy  and  difficulty.  It  may,  however, 

0  From  one  of  Lord  Nelson's  private  notes  on  Urn  subject. 


560 

be  observed,  that  Nelson  possessed  some  old 
fashioned  ideas,  which  it  would  be  well  for  so- 
ciety if  they  more  generally  prevailed.  He  had 
an  utter  horror  for  Republicans,  and  more  par- 
ticularly for  those  whom  the  hotbed  of  French 
Corruption  had  raised.  The  principle  on  which 
he  invariably  acted,  throughout  the  subsequent 
punishment  of  these  Traitors,  both  during  his 
continuance  at  Naples,  and  on  his  return  to  Pa* 
lermo,  was  a  determination  not  to  interfere  with 
the  regular  established  course  of  the  Neapolitan 
laws;  and  this  principle  of  conduct  was  certainly 
worthy  of  Lord  Nelson's  public  character  as  a 
British  Admiral,  purposely  sent  to  support  the 
government  and  laws  of  the  Kingdom  of  Naples, 
which  a  variety  of  causes  had  disorganised. 

(1799.)  Amidst  the  Neapolitan  Rebels  who 
had  been  compelled  to  take  shelter  in  these  Cas- 
tles of  Uovo  and  Nuovo  which  command  the 
anchorage  in  the  Bay  of  Naples,  the  deluded  Ca- 
raccioli  had  for  a  time  remained.  Previous  to 
Lord  Nelson's  arrival  in  the  Bay,  Caraccioli  had 
fled  from  these  Castles  to  Calvirrano,  whence  he 
had  implored  the  countenance  of  the  Duke  of 
Calvirrano  and  his  application  to  Cardinal  Ruffo 
for  protection  :  this  letter  was  dated  June  23d. 
He  confessed  in  it  that  he  was  bound  to  account 
for  his  actions  to  those  who  should  be  legally  au- 
thorised by  his  Sicilian  Majesty,  and  he  trusted 
that  the  few  days  during  which  he  had  been 


561 

forced  to  obey  the  French  Republic,  would  not 
obliterate  forty  years  of  most  faithful  service;' 
but  that  it  would  be  duly  weighed  and  valued 
in  the  scale  of  justice. — This  letter  clearly  proves, 
that  in  the  Projet  of  a  Capitulation  which  the 
Cardinal  had  so  fraudulently  attempted  to  ratify, 
Caraccioli  could  not  possibly  be  included.  He 
afterwards  escaped  to  the  mountains,  an  action, 
which  by  no  means  displayed  the  confidence  of  an 
honest  mind.  A  price  was  immediately  set  upon 
his  head ;  and  on  the  29th  of  June,  before  the 
arrival  of  the  King  from  Palermo,  this  Nobleman 
was  brought  in  the  disguise  of  a  peasant,  about 
nine  o'clock  in  the  morning,  alongside  of  Lord 
Nelson's  flag  ship,  the  Foudroyant.  The  Ad- 
miral had  now  a  most  painful  and  severe  duty  to 
perform.  Every  one  who  had  known  Caraccioli 
had  regarded  him ;  but  justice  was  to  have  its 
course,  and  the  only  man  who  could  secure  it, 
had  been  and  was  the  affectionate  friend  of  the 
unhappy  prisoner.  Lord  Nelson,  who  was  much 
agitated,  felt  it  all  most  keenly ;  but  he  also 
knew  that  he  must  perform  his  duty  not  only  to 
his  own  Sovereign,  but  to  that  Monarch  whose 
cause  Caraccioli  had  neglected,  and  who  looked 
alone  to  a  British  Admiral  for  that  redress  which 

P  One  of  the  Caraccioli  Family,  when  Viceroy  in  Sicily,  had, 
by  his  intercession  and  remonstrance  with  the  King,  abolished 
the  Inquisition  in  that  Island,  March  27,- 1782:  probably  the 
same  Nobleman  who  came  to  England,  as  the  Neapolitan  Minis- 
ter, and  was  much  respected  for  his  abilities. 

2  0 


562 

the  treacherous  Neapolitan  had  shewn  no  dispo- 
sition to  secure.  As  it  would  have  been  ex- 
tremely dangerous  to  have  ordered  a  Court 
Martial  to  .assemble  on  hoard  a  Neapolitan  ship, 
from  the  love  which  the  Sicilian  seamen  bore  to 
Caraccioli,  and  as  the  Foudroyant  was  considered 
as  the  seat  of  Government  of  the  King  of  Naples, 
his  Lordship  issued  an  order  to  Commodore 
Count  Thurn,  Commander  of  II.  S.  M.  frigate 
la  Minerva,  to  assemble  a  Court  Martial  of  Nea- 
politan Officers  on  board  his  Britannic  Majesty's 
ship.  During  the  Trial,  which  commenced  the 
same  morning,  and  lasted  from  ten  o'clock  to 
twelve,  the  Wardroom  of  the  Foudroyant  was 
open,  as  is  customary,  to  every  one  who  chose 
to  enter.  Every  thing  appeared  to  be  fairly 
and  honourably  conducted,  to  such  of  the  Eng- 
lish Officers  as  understood  Italian.  Caraccioli 
was  repeatedly  asked  questions  best  calculated 
to  enable  him  to  clear  those  aspersions  that  had 
been  attached  to  his  character ;  and  these  he 
answered  by  endeavouring  to  prove,  that  he  had 
been  forced  into  the  Republican  service,  had 
been  compelled  to  perform  the  duty  of  a  com- 
mon soldier  for  a  considerable  time,  when  he  M'as 
offered  the  command  of  the  Republican  Neapo- 
litan Navy,  which  necessity  alone  had  at  length 
compelled  him  to  accept.  This  necessity  the 
prisoner  repeatedly  attempted  to  substantiate; 
but  it  certainly  was  not  proved  to  the  satisfac- 
tion of  the  Court,  nor  of  our  own  Officers  who 


563 

were  present.  On  the  contrary,  it  clearly  was  de- 
monstrated that  the  prisoner  had  enjoyed  opportu- 
nities of  escaping;  and  on  being  frequently  asked, 
why  he  had  not  embraced  those  opportunities? 
no  satisfactory  reply  was  made.  The  Court  after- 
wards particularly  directed  its  attention  to  the 
two  following  points.  First,  the  prisoner's  having 
been  actively  present  on  board  the  Republican 
vessel  that  had  attacked  H.  S.  M.  frigate  la 
Minerva,  the  gun  boats  and  the  English  ships 
on  that  service,  in  which  some  of  his  Britannic 
Majesty's  subjects  had  been  killed,  and  others 
wounded.  Secondly,  his  not  endeavouring  to 
escape  previous  to  that  attack,  when  it  evidently 
appeared  he  had  possessed  opportunities  to  do 
so.  Caraccioli  in  vain  attempted  to  prove  his 
innocence;  his  answers  were  vague  and  sup- 
ported by  no  evidence  whatever,  the  last  efforts 
of  a.  man  striving  to  save  his  life.  The  Court 
was  then  cleared,  and  sentence  of  death  passed 
on  the  prisoner.  At  five  o'clock  he  was  re- 
moved from  the  Foudroyant  and  hanged  at  the 
fore  yard  arm  of  the  Neapolitan  frigate  la  Mi- 
nerva. His  body  was  afterwards  carried  out  to 
a  considerable  distance  and  sunk  in  the  bay  of 
Naples. 

(1799-)  On  the  day  previous  to  the  trial  and 
execution  of  Caraccioli,  Captain  Foote  had  sailed 
in  the  Seahorse,  by  Lord  Nelson's  order,  for  the 
purpose  of  conveying  the  King  and  his  family 
to  Naples.  Sir  John  Acton  there  informed  Cap- 

202 


564 

« 

tain  Foote  of  the  intention  of  their  Sicilian 
Majesties  to  proceed  to  Naples  in  their  own  fri- 
gate the  Sirena,  lest  they  might  hurt  the  feelings 
of  their  naval  officers,  wha  had  remained  faith- 
ful; but  that  their  Majesties  wished  him  to 
convoy  them  and  the  transports  with  troops  on 
board,  and  also  to  embark  their  treasure  and 
staff  in  the  Seahorse.  On  his  return  to  Na- 
ples, July  8,  his  Sicilian  Majesty  again  held 
his  Court  and  resided  on  board  Lord  Nelson's 
ship,  under  the  secure  protection  of  the  British 
flag ;  where  he  enjoyed  the  constant  loyalty, 
more  particularly  of  the  lower  classes,  of  his 
subjects,  and  renewed  that  courtesy  and  conde- 
scension to  all  ranks  which  had  retained  so  pow- 
erful an  ascendency  over  the  artifices  and  ca- 
lumnies of  the  French. 

During  these  great  and  leading  events  in  the 
life  of  Nelson,  the  Defence  of  Acre  had  been 
conducted  with  that  skill  which  reflected  so  much 
credit  on  the  various  persons  who  were  con- 
cerned. Ghezzar  Pasha  was  enabled  to  oppose 
an  effectual  resistance  to  Buonaparte  by  the  ac- 
tive co-operation  of  Sir  Sidney  Smith,  and  the  ta- 
lents of  his  eminent  associate  Phellipeaux,  a  most 
skilful  French  engineer.  Colonel  Phellipeaux 
had  studied  at  the  Military  College  with  Buona- 
parte ;  in  all  their  public  examinations  had  inva- 
riably borne  off  the  palm,  and  been  acknowledged 
his  superior.  At  Acre  their  respective  talents 
were  again  tried,  and  the  same  superiority  dis- 


565 

played  by  this  distinguished  royalist;  who  having 
entirely  baffled  the  force  of  Buonaparte,  and 
arrested  his  career,  died  soon  aftersvards  of  a 
decline,  from  the  fatigue  he  had  experienced. 
Sir  Sidney  Smith  had  also  to  lament  the  death  of 
another  officer  of  well  known  and  tried  abilities, 
Captain  R.  W.  Miller  of  the  Theseus,  who  had 
been  appointed  to  serve  under  Sir  Sidney  at  his 
particular  request. 

(1799.)  Lord  Nelson  to  Lady  Nelson,  dated 
Naples,  July  14. — "  My  dear  Fanny:  I  have  to 
thank  you  sincerely  for  your  letters.  I  rejoice 
that  you  gave  Mr.  Bolton  the  money,  and  I  wish 
it  made  up  500/.  I  never  regarded  money,  nor 
wanted  it  for  my  own  use;  therefore  as  the  East 
India  Company  have  made  me  so  magnificent  a 
present,  I  beg  that  2000/.  of  it  may  be  disposed 
of  in  the  following  manner.  Five  hundred  pounds 
to  my  Father.  Five  hundred  to  be  made  up  to 
Mr.  Bolton,  and  let  it  be  a  God  send  without  any 
restriction.  Five  hundred  to  Maurice,  and  five 
hundred  to  William.  And  if  you  think  my 
sister  Matcham  would  be  gratified  by  it,  do 
the  same  for  her.  If  I  were  rich  I  would  do 
more;  but  it  will  very  soon  be  known  how  poor 
I  am,  except  my  yearly  income.  I  am  not  sur- 
prised at  my  Brother's  death  :q  three  are  now 

*  This  Brother  was  the  Rev.  Suckling  Nelson,  in  whose  behalf 
the  Admiral  had  written  to  the  Chancellor,  Lord  Loughborougli, 
October  12,  1797,  requesting  his  Lordship  to  allow  the  Rev. 


566" 

dead  younger  than  myself,  having  grown  to 
man's  age.  My  situation  here  is  not  to  be  de- 
scribed ;  but  suffice  it  to  say,  I  am  endeavouring 
to  work  for  good.  To  my  father  say  every 
thing  which  is  kind  :  I  love,  honour  and  respect 
him  as  a  father  and  as  a  man,  and  as  the  very 
best  man  I  ever  saw.  May  God  Almighty  bless 
you,  my  dear  Father  and  all  my  Brothers  and 
Sisters,  is  the  fervent  prayer  of  your  affectionate 
Nelson.'1 

(1799.)  X.  The  attention  of  Lord  Nelsoa 
during  the  month  of  July,  was  principally  di- 
rected, together  with  the  reestablishment  of  the 
royal  authority  in  Naples,  to  the  siege  of  St. 
Elrno,  the  subduing  of  Capua  and  Gaieta,  and  to 
guard  against  those  constant  apprehensions  which 
were  entertained  for  the  safety  of  the  valuable 
island  of  Minorca.  On  the  yth  of  July,  the 
Spanish  fleet  consisting  of  nineteen  sail  of  the 
line,  four  frigates,  two  brigs,  and  a  cutter,  had 
passed  through  the  Straits  very  early ;  and  were 

Edmund  Nelson  to  resign  his  living  of  Burnham,  with  its  appen- 
dages, to  this  his  youngest  son.  This  request  was  most  graciously 
acceded  to,  with  an.  offer  from  the  Chancellor  of  rendering  any 
further  services  to  the  Nelson  Family.  In  consequence  of  which, 
Sir  Horatio  had  asked  for  a  Stall  in  the  Cathedral  of  Norwich, 
for  his  brother  William.  On  the  death  of  the  Rev.  Suckling 
Nelson,  to  the  honour  of  Lord  Loughborough,  he  allowed  the 
living  of  Burnham  again  to  revert  to  the  Rev.  Edmund  Nelson  , 
as  appears  by  a  letter  from  him  to  Mr.  Halket,  Secretary  to  the 
Chancellor,  dated  April  25,  1799. 


followed,  in  the  evening,  by  the  French  fleet, 
consisting  of  twenty-three  sail  of  the  line,  nine 
frigates,  two  brigs,  two  cutters,  two  luggers, 
and  one  schooner ;  in  all  sixty-five  sail.  Lord 
Keith  immediately  sent  the  following  instruc- 
tions, July  9,  to  Lord  Nelson,  and  then  sailed 
from  Mahon,  in  pursuit  of  the  enemy.  "  Dear 
Nelson  :  I  came  in  here  yesterday  to  get  some 
water,  and  had  not  anchored  an  hour  when  I 
heard  the  Combined  Fleets  had  left  Carthagena, 
and  had  steered  to  the  westward.  If  this  Island 
is  left  without  ships  it  must  fall.  You  must 
therefore  either  come  on,  or  send  Duckworth  to 
govern  himself  as  circumstances  offer,  until  I 
can  determine  to  a  certainty  the  intentions  of 
the  enemy."' — And  in  a  letter  dated  off  Palma, 
July  14,  he  finished  by  saying,  "  I  trust  the 
defence  of  Minorca  to  your  Lordship,  and  re- 
peat my  directions,  that  the  ships  be  sent  for  its 
protection." — Lord  Nelson  had,  on  the  contrary, 
determined  not  to  leave  the  Bay  of  Naples  ex- 
posed, and  at  first  appears  to  have  been  extremely 
irritated  and  vexed:  In  acknowledging  the  re- 
ceipt of  Lord  Keith's  orders,  July  13,  he  said, 
"  As  soon  as  the  safety  of  his  Sicilian  Majesty's 
kingdoms  is  secured,  I  shall  not  lose  one  mo- 
ment in  making  the  detachment  you  are  pleased 
to  order."  The  day  after  the  date  of  this  letter, 
Lord  Keith  issued  a  fresh  Order  to  the  follow- 
ing purport,  addressed  to  the  Admiral :  "  Your 
Lordship  is  hereby  required  and  directed  to 


568 

repair  to  Minorca,  with  the  whole  or  the  greatest 
part  of  the  force  under  your  Lordship's  com- 
mand, for  the  protection  of  that  Island,  as  I  shall 
in  all  probability  have  left  the  Mediterranean 
before  your  Lordship  will  receive  this.     Given 
on  board  the  Queen  Charlotte,  off  Formenterra, 
July  14." — This  order  was  not  altogether  adapted 
to  abate    the   increased    agitation  of    Nelson's 
mind.      He  still  persisted  in  remaining  on   his 
station;   but  on  the  22d  of  July,   detached  Ad- 
miral Duckworth  to  Minorca,  with  the  Powerful, 
Majestic,  Vanguard,  and  Swallow  Corvette,  di- 
recting him,   at  his  arrival,  to  take  such  of  his 
Majesty's  ships  under  his  command  as  he  might 
find  at  Port  Mahon.     The  following   letter  to 
Earl  St.  Vincent,  dated  Foudroyant  at  sea,  June 
16,  describes  the  Admiral's  private  feelings  on 
this  trying  occasion  :   "  I  send  your  Lordship  a 
copy  of  my  letter  to  Lord  Keith,  and   I  have 
only  to  add  my  regret  that  his  Lordship  could  not 
have  sent  me  a  proper  force  to  face  the  enemy  : 
but,    as  we  are,  I  shall  not  get  out  of  their  way; 
although,  as  I  am,  I  cannot  think  myself  justified 
in  exposing  the  World,   I  may  almost  say,  to  be 
plundered   by   those  miscreants.     I  trust  your 
Lordship  will  not  think  me  wrong  in  the  painful 
determination    I    conceived    myself  forced    to 
make ;    for   agonised   indeed  was  the    mind  of 
your  faithful  and  affectionate  servant,  Nelson." 
The  conduct  of  Captain  Troubridge  through- 
out the  Sieges  of  St.  Elmo,   Capua,  and  Gaieta, 


569 

afforded  continued  examples  of  the   vigilance, 
enterprise,  and  inexhaustible  resources   of  that 
great  Officer.     He  had  landed,  agreeably  to  Lord 
Nelson's  orders,  with  the  English  and  Portuguese 
marines  of  the  fleet  on  the  27th  of  June ;    and 
after  embarking  the  garrisons  of  the  castles  of 
Uovo    and   Nuovo,    composed    of   French   and 
rebels,  had  left  a  garrison  in  each  under  Captain 
Hood  ;  and  on  the  29th  of  the  same  month,  had 
taken  post  against  Fort  St.  Elmo,  which  he  sum- 
moned to  surrender.     This  fort,  garrisoned  with 
800  troops,  was  commanded  by  a  French  Repub- 
lican, Mejan,   the  Commandant  of  the   French 
Neapolitan  army,  whose  rude  manners  and  inso- 
lent behaviour  wore  peculiarly  obnoxious  to  the 
King,     Captain  Troubriclge  having  resorted  to 
Antigniano,  near  St.  Elmo,  in  eight  days  brought 
this  proud  Republican  to  his  senses,  and  to  a  con- 
sciousness of  his  inferiority:  notwithstanding  bad 
powder  and  damp  cartridges,  Captain  Troubridge 
opened    a  battery   on   him    of    three  thirty-six 
pounders  and  four  mortars  on  the  3d  of  July, 
within  seven  hundred  "yards  of  Fort   St.  Elmo. 
On  the  5th  he  opened  another  of  two  thirty-six 
pounders,    two    hundred   yards  from  the    fort. 
The  Russians  under  Captain  Baillie  also  opened 
a  battery  of  four  thirty-six  pounders  and  four 
mortars  against  the  opposite  angle,   in  order  to- 
assist  in  storming  it  in  different  places,  as  soon 
as  two  practicable  breaches  were  made.     Captain 
Troubridge,  at  the  same  time,  was  making  every 


preparation  for  opening  a  fourth  battery,  and 
afterwards  a  fifth  witiu  one  hundred  and  eighty 
yards  of  the  wall  of  the  garrison.  When  writing 
to  Lord  Nelson,  "  I  am  really  sorry,"  said  he, 
"  to  see  your  Lordship  so  low  spirited,  all  will  go 
well ;  but  the  devilish  Fort  is  so  high  and  com- 
manding, that  our  batteries  are  obliged  to  be 
mountains.  When  we  get  their  works  beat  off, 
I  hope  we  shall  soon  be  able  to  mine  the  fort. 
July  12.  The  new  battery  brought  the  Vaga- 
bonds to  their  senses,  after  much  trouble  and 
palaver.  I  send  your  Lordship  the  Capitulation 
regularly  signed;  and  the  moment  I  have  got 
the  fort  arranged,  I  shall  pay  you  my  respects 
and  bring  the  colours  and  keys'." — Thusr  did  the 
French  garrison  of  St.  Elmo  surrender  themselves 
prisoners  of  war  to  his  Neapolitan  Majesty  and 
his  Allies,  and  marched  out  of  the  fort  with  their 
arms  and  with  drums  beating. 

(1799.)  The  Sieges  of  Capua  and  Gaeta  next 
ensued,  and  were  crowned  with  equal  success* 
The  Swiss  troops  on  this  service  were  under  Col. 
Tschudy,  the  cavalry  left  Naples  under  General 
Acton,  and  the  different  corps  of  infantry  under 
General  Bouchard  and  Colonel  Gams.  On  the 
19th  of  July,  this  whole  force  with  the  British 
and  Portuguese  began  their  march,  and  were 
followed  by  the  Russians.  During  the  night  and 
the  next  day,  all  the  troops  arrived  at  Caserta, 

»  Vide  4to  Edition,  Vol.  II.  p.  197,  et  seq. 


571 

and  were  employed  in  reconnoitring  the  ground 
and  erecting  batteries;  their  head  quarters  were 
at  St.  Angelo.  On  the  25th  the  trenches  were 
opened,  with  one  battery  within  500  yards  of 
the  glacis.  In  a  letter  from  the  camp  at  St. 
Angelo,  to  Lord  Nelson,  Troubridge  said,  "Our 
Battery  was  finished  by  four  o'clock  yesterday 
afternoon,  but  I  did  not  think  it  advisable  to 
open  until  this  morning,  at  half  past  three  o'clock. 
After  three  rounds  from  the  guns  and  mortars,  I 
sent  Hallowell  to  propose  the  Terms  your  Lord- 
ship directed.  They  answered  they  could  not 
surrender,  and  hardly  believed  that  St.  Elmo 
was  taken.  Our  batteries  are  again  opening; 
but  the  powder  is  so  bad  that  the  shells  hardly 
breach  ;  many  fall  short  though  not  above  300 
toises,  I  really  suspect  some  treachery.  July 
26,  eight  A.  M.  As  there  is  no  dependance  to 
be  placed  on  the  metal  of  the  Neapolitan  mortars, 
I  submit  to  your  Lordship  if  we  had  not  better 
get  our  ten  inch  sea  mortars  fitted  in  land  beds, 
Bunce  my  carpenter  would  soon  do  it.  Pray 
lend  us  all  the  spades  and  iron  shovels  from  the 
ships,  the  tools  these  country  people  have,  work 
too  slow  for  us.  Nine  P.  M.  We  gain  ground 
daily.  If  we  can  complete  the  trench  to-night 
for  two  batteries  of  four  guns  each,  I  think,  with 
the  mortars,  to  bring  the  governor  to  his  senses. 
July  27,  two  P.  M.  The  French  sent  out  this 
morning,  in  their  usual  way,  demanding  pro- 
tection for  the  Patriots;  I  answered  inadmissible, 


572 

and  offered  the  terms  of  St.  Elmo,  and  to  include 
Gaieta  in  the  capitulation.  They  desire  until 
to  morrow  morning,  to  hold  a  council.  July  28. 
I  have  the  honour  to  enclose  your  Lordship  a 
copy  of  the  Capitulation,  signed  by  all  but  the 
Turk;  I  shall  get  his  signature  to  another  in 
the  course  of  the  day.  I  had  gone  too  far  before 
your  letter  reached  me,  at  midnight,  to  insist 
on  Gaieta.  The  Governor  offers,  if  his  Majesty 
will  let  that  garrison  take  their  arms,  he  will  give 
orders  for  its  immediate  evacuation." 

(1799.)'  OQ  tne  return  of  Captain  Troubridge 
to  Naples,  Captain  Louis  of  the  Minotaur  had 
informed  the  Commandant  of  Gaieta,  Berger, 
that  his  Sicilian  Majesty  would  allow  the  French 
in  that  fortress,  as  they  had  not  been  regularly 
besieged,  though  they  had  endured  a  long  block- 
ade, to  march  out  with  military  honours ;  and 
his  Majesty  also  promised,  through  Captain  Louis, 
that  the  garrison  should  be  sent  to  France  with- 
out being  considered  as  prisoners  of  war.  On 
the  morning  of  the  2d  of  August,  Captain  Louis 
waited  on  the  Commandant  by  appointment, 
when  articles  for  the  surrender  of  Gaieta  were 
signed.  In  Gaieta  were  taken  58  battering 
brass  guns,  26  of  which  were  twenty-four  pound- 
ers, 12  battering  iron  guns,  two  field  brass  guns 
four  pounders,  four  twelve  inch  brass  mortars, 
14  nine  inch  and  one  six  inch  mortar  for  ram- 
parts. On  the  first  of  August,  the  Admiral  sent 
an  official  notice  to  Lord  Keith,  of  the  complete 


573 

success  which  had  been  thus  uniformly  obtained 
against  the  French  troops  in  the  kingdom  of 
Naples;  and  accompanied  it  with  commendation 
of  the  Officers  who  had  so  much  distinguished 
themselves. 

XI.  From  the  beginning  of  the  Summer  of 
1  1799,  to  his  return  to  England  in  the   ensuing 
year,  Lord  Nelson  kept  up  an  extensive  corre- 
spondence with  some  of  the  principal  inhabitants 
in  the  Two  Sicilies,  and  with  many  public  cha- 
racters in  the  Italian  States.     The  Italian  Corre- 
spondence with  persons  who  resided  at  a  distance 
from  Naples,  discloses  facts  which,  although  not 
immediately    connected  with  the  biography  of 
Lord  Nelson,   might  by  other  writers  be  consi- 
dered as  so  many  sources  of  information  towards 
the  eventful  history   of  the  times.     There  are, 
however,    two    circumstances    so    curious    and 
interesting,   as  to  deserve  notice  in  this  place. 
The  first  is  a  letter  from  the  Count  Chilembert, 
his  Sardinian   Majesty's   Prime  Minister,   dated 
Cagliari,  Aug  6'.     A  short  time  after  the  date  of 
which,  the  King  wrote  to  the   British  Admiral, 
dated  Cagliari,  Aug.  11. — "  Dear  Admiral  Nel- 
son: I  have  felt  great  pleasure  from  your  letter 
of  the  first  of  this  month,    and   I   acknowledge 
myself  much  obliged  to  you  for  your  polite  at- 
tention in  offering   me  a   sufficient   number  of 
ships  for  the  conveyance  of  the  Royal  Family  to 
my  continental  dominions.     I  shall  send  -one  of 
my  Ministers  to  consult  with  you,   and  I  shall 


574 

be  ready  to  embark  as  soon  as  .the  ships  arrive. 
With  an  assurance  of  my  esteem  and  gratitude, 
I  am  your  true  friend.  CHARLES  EMMANUEL." 

(1799-)  There  is  also  another  interesting  par- 
ticular in  the  Italian  Correspondence  with  Lord 
Nelson,  which  marked  the  high  estimation  in 
which  his  character  was  held  even  hy  the  Church 
of  Rome.'  This  is  contained  in  a  letter  that  was 
addressed  to  his  Lordship  from  Venice,  August 
20,  by  the  Cardinal  Albani,  Dean  of  the  Sacred 
College,  and  a  near  relation  to  the  Emperor  of 
Austria,  a  few  days  previous  to  the  death  of  the 
unfortunate  Pope  Pius  VI. 

Thus  did  Lord  Nelson  from  all  quarters  l  re- 
ceive the  grateful  acknowledgment  of  his  supe- 
rior talents,  and  that  Praise  which  is  worth  am- 
bition. His  glory  had  now,  indeed,  attained  that 
giddy  height  which  required  the  exercise  of  the 
greatest  powers  of  the  human  mind.  It  de- 
manded that  conquest  of  himself,  that  subjuga- 
tion of  every  passion,  by  which  the  wiles  of 
flattery  and  the  craftiness  of  this  world  can  be 
alone  repelled.  Yet  one  step  alone  was  neces- 

*  The  attention  of  Lord  Nelson  to  some  of  the  Cardinals  and 
persecuted  members  of  the  Church  of  Rome  at  the  close  of  the 
year  1/98,  was  mentioned  with  lively  gratitude  by  the  Archeveque 
di  Nisibi,  the  Pope's  Nuncio,  to  H.  R.  H.  the  Prince  of  Wales; 
during  his  Excellency's  short  continuance  in  England  in  1808, 
when  waiting  for  a  ship  to  convey  him  to  the  Portuguese  Court  at 
the  Brazils. 

<  Vide  4t3  Edit.  p.  206,  207 . 


575 

sary  for  this  great  man  to  take,  in  order  to  per- 
form this;  but  that  step  was  an  imperious  one — 
an  immediate  return  to  his  own  Country.  His 
venerable  Father  in  writing  some  time  previous 
to  this,  had  said,  "  Though  your  Reputation, 
my  dear  good  Horatio,  stands  high,  very  high, 
yet  we  all  know  that  the  most  beautiful  Building 
may  receive  an  injury  by  some  accidental  event, 
or  by  a  secret  enemy,  before  it  is  completely 
finished.  I  do  most  heartily  wish  your  Work 
had  received  its  final  polish  from  those,  in  whose 
hands  are  solid,  golden,  and  lasting  ornaments. 
Looking  forward  to  our  happy  interview,  I  now 
once  more  say,  Adieu/' — The  continual  request 
of  the  Royal  Family  not  to  leave  them,  and  the 
irresistible  force  of  that  attention  which  was 
exerted  to  detain  him,  rendered  his  situation 
particularly  painful  and  dangerous. — "I  observe," 
said  the  Minister,  Sir  John  Acton,  to  Lord  Nel- 
son after  their  return  to  Palermo,  "  your  kind 
regard  to  their  Sicilian  Majesties,  and  your  in- 
tention not  to  leave  them  until  they  are  safe  at 
Naples ;  this  is  like  you,  and  certainly  nothing- 
can  be  done  for  the  safety  of  the  Royal  Family 
until  then.  I  learn  from  your  letters  what  some 
persons  have  advanced  in  regard  to  this  kind 
assistance.  Merit  and  applause  have  always 
raised  the  insinuations  of  envy  and  jealousy.'' 
—The  Sicilian  Minister  reasoned  right,  but  on 
a  wrong  foundation:  These  remonstrances  had 
proceeded  not  from  envy,  but  from  the  sincerest 


friends  whom  his  Lordship  possessed.  In  a  fatal 
hour  he  neglected  these  remonstrances,  and  re- 
turned to  Palermo.  On  leaving  Naples,  his  Lord- 
ship, as  being  at  that  time  the  senior  officer  in 
the  Mediterranean,  had  ordered  Captain  Trou- 
bridge  to  hoist  a  broad  pendant,  as  Commodore 
of  the  British  squadron  in  the  bay  of  Naples  and 
on  the  coast  of  Italy,  an  account  of  which  was 
transmitted  to  Lord  Keith  and  Lord  Spencer. 
Whilst  on  this  service,  Captain  Troubridge  was 
obliged  to  keep  up  a  constant  correspondence 
with  Cardinal  Ruffo,  and  the  Neapolitan  Junto 
of  State;  and  he  had  the  utmost  difficulty  to 
avoid  being  implicated  by  the  Cardinal  in  the 
trial  and  execution- of  the  rebels  then  going  on 
under  the  especial  jurisdiction  of  the  Junto;  \vith 
which  neither  Lord  Nelson,  nor  his  Officers  had 
the  least  concern. 

(1799.)  The  letter  sent  from  the  Board  of  Ad- 
miralty, dated  August  20,  conveyed  its  opinion  of 
the  late  Transactions  in  which  Lord  Nelson  had 
been  concerned.  Their  Lordships'  approbation 
was  given  respecting  his  having  proceeded  to 
the  bay  of  Naples,  for  the  purpose  of  endeavour- 
ing to  bring  the  affairs  of  his  Sicilian  Majesty 
to  a  happy  conclusion,  and  on  his  landing  a  large 
body  of  men  for  the  Siege  of  St.  Elmo ;  but  a 
reprehension  was  subjoined  in  regard  to  his 
refusal  to  obey  Lord  Keith's  orders,  by  not 
going  to  the  support  of  Minorca;  as  also  for  his 
landing  1000  of  the  best  men  from  his  squadron, 


577 

under  Captains  Troubridge  and  Hallowell,  to 
serve  on  shore  with  the  Army  at  the  siege  of 
Capua.  However  unpleasant  this  might  prove 
to  the  feelings  of  Lord  Nelson,  it  shewed  that 
the  Discipline  of  the  British  Navy  was  perfect  at 
its  fountain  head ;  and  that  the  Board  would  re- 
prehend, if  deemed  necessary  by  Government, 
one  of  the  first  and  most  popular  Admirals  in  the 
British  service. 

The  liberality  of  the  King  of  the  Two  Sicilies 
to  the  English  officers  on  his  return  to  Palermo, 
did  honour  to  the  son  of  Charles  the  Third.  On 
his  first  arrival  from  Naples  at  the  close  of  the 
preceding  year,  his  Majesty  had  been  pleased  to 
order  a  Royal  Largess  to  be  distributed  to  the 
officers  and  ship's  company  of  the  Vanguard,  and 
to  the  respective  crews  of  the  barges  who  had 
assisted  in  securing  the  safe  retreat  of  the  Royal 
Family.  To  Captain  Hope  who  had  conveyed 
the  King  and  Prince  Royal  on  board,  a  diamond 
ring  of  great  value  was  presented,  and  a  similar 
one  was  given  to  Lord  Nelson's1  secretar}7,  Mr.' 
Tyson.  The  second  day  after  the  King's  return, 
Lady  Hamilton,  by  desire  of  the  Queen  of  Naples, 
informed  Lord  Nelson  that  it  \vas  the  King's 
immediate  intention  to  grant  him  the  Dukedom 
and  valuable  feud  of  Bronte,  which  was  officially 
signified"  to  him  on  the  13th  of  August;  and  on 

*  His  Majesty  is  said  to  have  previously  announced  his  inten- 
tion of  conferring  this  Dukedom  on  Lord  Nelson,  whilst  on  board 


578 

the  same  day  his  Majesty  sent  a  letter  to  him, 
full  of  the  most  grateful  expressions,  on  present- 
ing the  Sword,  valued  at  4000  guineas,  which 
the  King  had  received  from  his  Father  on  leav- 
ing Naples  for  Spain. 

(17^9.)  On  the  16th  of  August  Lord  Nelson 
detached  the  Foudroyant,  as  he  had  promised,  to 
Cagliari  for  the  assistance  of  his  Sardinian  Ma- 
jesty, and  for  the  time  was  obliged  to  hoist  his 
flag  on  board  the  Samuel  and  Jane  transport  then 
lying  off  Palermo.  He  also  directed  that  the 
Mutine  brig  should  leave  Naples  on  the  same 
service,  on  which  the  Portuguese  corvette  the 
Swallow  was  likewise  employed.  In  writing  on 
the  same  day  to  the  Sardinian  Minister,  Count 
Chialambert,  his  Lordship  said,  "  I  send  the 
Foudroyant,  as  she  is  my  own  flag  ship  and  the 
first  two-decked  ship  afloat.  I  would  send*  more 
but  the  service  of  the  civilised  world  requires 
every  exertion  ;  therefore  I  have  not  the  power 
to  send  another  ship  of  war."  And  to  H.  R.  H. 
the  Duke  of  Clarence,  his  Lordship  added, 

his  flag  ship,  and  that  the  Admin!  had  begged  leave  to  decline  so 
noble  a  remuneration:  Upon  which  the  King  replied,  Lord  Nel- 
son, do  you  "wish  hat  your  name  alone  should  pass  ivith  glory  to  pos- 
terity, and  that  I,  Ferdtnando  Bvurbon,  should  appear  ungrateful? 
*  The  Bellerophon,  Captain  Darby,  arrived  in  the  bay  of  Cag- 
iiari,  August  11.  as  Convoy  to  the  transports  sent  to  receive  bul- 
locks from  Sardinia  for  Mahonj  and  sailed  the  moment  they  were 
ready.  Admiral  Duckworth  also  on  ths  i  Ith  of  August  had  de- 
tached Captain  R.  Campbell  in  the  Santa  Teresa  to  the  Sardinian 
port  of  Toro,  for  the  service  of  his  Sardinian  Majesty. 


579 

"  Thus  our  King,  Sir,  will  have  the  comfort  that 
his  ships  afford  an  asylum  and  protection  to 
other  Monarchs  besides  the  King  of  Naples;  and 
will  have  the  satisfaction  of  knowing,  that  his 
Sardinian  Majesty  is  likewise  returned  under  the 
sanction  of  the  British  flag." 

On  the  20th  of  August  Lord  Nelson  directed 
Admiral  Duckworth,  by  an  order  dated  on  board 
the  Samuel  and  Jane  transport  at  Palermo,  to 
proceed  himself,  or  to  detach  two  ships  of  the 
line,  of  which  the  Zealous  was  to  be  one,  to  assist 
General  O'Hara  and  the  garrison  at  Gibraltar, 
by  keeping  the  Barbary  ports,  and  the  Straits, 
open.  On  being  joined  by  a  reinforcement  of 
three  ships  of  the  line,  with  frigates  and  sloops, 
Admiral  Duckworth  was  ordered  to  proceed  off 
Cadiz  ;  and  on  the  same  day  he  received  from 
Lord  Nelson  the  following  private  letter:  "No 
one,  be  assured,  estimates  your  worth  both  as 
an  Officer  and  a  man  more  than  we  have  of  this 
house;  you  must  consider  a  line  from  me  as  a 
side  of  paper  from  any  one  else.  Lord  Keith  is 
gone  and  all  ray  superior  Officers ;  therefore  I 
must  now  watch  from  Cape  St.  Vincent  to  Con- 
stantinople/" In  a  subsequent  letter  his  Lord- 
ship added,  "I  am  venturing  certainly  out  of 
my  line  of  duty,  but  as  the  Commander  in  Chief 
may  not  even  be  on  the,  station,  I  must  do  the 

f  Lord  Nelson  considered  himself  as  holding  the  situation  of 
Commander  in  Chief  in  the  Mediterranean,  from  August  17  to 
November  30,  1/99. 

2  P  2 


580 

best  which  my  judgment  points  out  during  his 
temporary  absence.  If  Sir  James  would  have 
allowed  the  troops  from  Lisbon  to  have  proceeded 
to  Malta,  I  would  have  forfeited  my  life  if  in 
three  days  it  had  not  surrendered." 

(1799-)  During  the  short  interval  that  Lord 
Nelson  held  this  temporary  rank  of  Commander 
in  Chief  in  the  Mediterranean,  his  letters  and  or- 
ders have  an  additional  iuterest.     On  the  12th  of 
Sept.  he  sent  the  following  additional  Instructions 
to  Admiral  Duckworth.    "  My  dear  Admiral :    I 
approve  very  much  of  your  first  plan  of  visiting 
Gibraltar,  after  lookingintoCarthagena;  but  I  wish 
you  had  fixed  to  send  some  of  the  best  ships  imme- 
diately back  to  Minorca,  and  as  Goliath  and  Swift- 
sure  go  from  hence  direct  to  Gibraltar,  you  will 
send  two  ships  of  the  line,  and,  if  they  arc  to  be 
found,  some  small  ships ;  for  at  present  I  know 
not  the  names  of  the  frigates  left  by  Lord  Keith, 
nor  how  they  are  disposed  of.     If  1  am  left  in 
this  command    even   for  a  few  months,    I  shall 
send  those   French    frigates   which    cannot    be 
manned  to  England,    and  for  that  purpose  fifty 
good  men  shall  be  left  by  those  ships  going  home. 
My  mind  is  fixed  that   I  will  not  keep  one  ship 
in  the  Mediterranean  which  is  not  fit   for  any 
service.     During   the   winter,  those   half  fitted 
drain  us  of  all  the  stores  and   render  us  all   use- 
less.   You  have  acted  on  this  principle  in  sending 
the  Aurora  and  Dolphin,  and  it  is  my  particular 
desire  that  you  continue  it.     I  am  aware  of  the 


581 

argument  which  may  be  used  against  my  plan,  viz. 
Our  Seamen  get  no  good  by  going  to  England,  to 
which  I  perfectly  agree ;  but  the  ships  left  here 
with  me  are  beyond  all  common  refit,  nor  can  they 
be  furnished  with  stores,  not  having  any  founda- 
tion to  be  kept  up;  and  what  would  be  an  ample 
supply  to  keep  up  a  Squadron,  is  really  nothing 
in  our  situation.  Be  the  event  what  it  may, 
Lord  Keith  will  probably  by  this  time  have  re- 
turned to  Gibraltar ;  but  I  hope  he  will  make 
allowances  that  I  am  acting  in  the  same  way  as 
if  I  knew  nothing  of  his  being  there." 

(17990  Tne  great  services  of  Captain  Ball 
during  the  tedious  Siege  of  Malta,  were  this 
year  very  honourably  noticed  by  his  Sicilian 
Majesty.  During  the  month  of  September,  Sir 
John  Acton  sent  him  word,  That  the  King  having 
been  duly  informed  of  the  valour,  uncommon 
vigilance,  and  praiseworthy  conduct  which  Cap- 
tain Ball  had  shewn  during  the  blockade,  in 
compliance  with  the  wishes  of  the  Maltese  and 
with  the  consent -of  the  most  excellent  and 
worthy  Admiral  the  Lord  Duke  of  Bronte,  his 
Majesty  had  confided  to  Captain  Ball  the  go- 
vernment of  that  Island. —  Captain  Ball's  letters 
to  Lord  Nelson  from  the  close  of  August  to  the 
end  of  October,2  point  out  some  of  the  causes 
which  had  prolonged  the  Siege.  The  Admiral 
in  writing  afterwards  to  Mr.  Nepean,  on  the  sub- 

*  Quarto  Edit.  p.  222. 


582 

ject,  said,  "  It  has  been  no  fault  of  the  Navy 
that  Malta  has  not  been  attacked  by  land;  but 
we  have  neither  the  means  ourselves,  nor  in- 
fluence with  those  who  have  the  power." 

(1799-)  The  Operations  against  the  Roman 
Port,  Civita  Vecchia,  by  Captains  Hallowell, 
Louis,  and  the  other  naval  officers  who  had  been 
detached  on  that  service  by  Sir  T.  Troubridge, 
had  been  crowned  with  success  on  the  £6th  of 
September;  and  the  articles  of  Capitulation 
which  were  signed  en  that  and  the  following 
day,  had  been  received  by  Lord  Nelson,  as  he 
mentioned  in  a  letter  to  H.  R.  H.  the  Duke  of 
Clarence,  on  the  1st  of  October.  His  Lordship, 
so  far  back  as  the  end  of  August,  had  endeavoured 
to  expedite  this  event  by  requesting  the  coope- 
ration of  some  British  troops  from  Sir  James 
Erskine;  but  the  application  having  been  re- 
fused, Lord  Nelson  and  Commodore  Troubridge 
continued  to  pursue  that  object  with  a  small  de- 
tachment^ from  the  Mediterranean  fleet.  The 
following  extracts  from  some  letters  of  the  lat- 
ter Officer,  whilst  in  the  Bay  of  Naples  and  off 
Civita  Vecchia,  not  only  relate  many  events 
relative  to  proceedings  on  that  service  con- 
nected with  the  preceding  operations,  at  Naples; 
but  also  briefly  retrace  the  manner  in  which  he 
at  length  succeeded,  and,  as  the  Friar"  had  de- 
clared, took  Rome  by  the  ships  that  belonged 

•  Lord  Nelson  afterwards  requested  the  King  of  S.icily  to  give 
this  Friar  preferment  in  the  Church,  which  was  granted. 


583 

to  the  squadron  under  the  command  of  Lord 
Nelson. 

(1799-)  Naples,  Sept.  5.  "My  Lord:  I  should 
still  like  to  send  Louis  in  the  Minotaur  to  try 
them  at  Civita  Vecchia,  I  think  they  would  give 
in.  As  your  Lordship  directs  me  in  your  letter 
not  to  quit  the  Bay  until  a  respectable  Russian 
squadron  arrives,  I  wait  with  impatience  your 
further  orders.  Sept.  7.  I  continue  my  Marines 
on  shore,  at  the  particular  request  of  the  Cardi- 
nal, who  complains  loudly  of  the  enormous  ex- 
pense of  the  Russians.  I  am  anxious  to  hear  by 
the  Perseus,  whether  your  Lordship  thinks  the 
three  Russian  frigates  a  sufficient  force  to  leave 
at  Naples;  not  a  moment  shall  be  lost,  if  you 
say  Yes.  I  can  embark  my  Marines  whilst  I  am 
unmooring.  Sept.  10.  Your  Lordship's  two  let- 
ters are  just  arrived.  I  shall  not  lose  a  moment 
in  sending  Captain  Louis  with  the  Proposals  to 
Civita  Vecchia,  and  he  will  have  Mutine,  Trans- 
fer, and  Perseus,  when  he  arrives  there." 
Proposals  sent  from  Commodore  Troubridge  by 
Captain  Louis  to  the  Commandant  of  the  Repub- 
lican Troops  at  Civita  Vecchia. 
"  Sir  :  I  have  sent  Captain  Louis,  Commander 
of  the  Minotaur,  one  of  H.  B.  M.  ships  under 
my  command,  to  offer  your  garrison  and  Corneta 
the  same  terms  as  at  Gaieta;  assuring  you,  that 
the  allied  forces  of  Russians,  &c.  are  advancing 
into  the  Roman  State;  and  I  think  it  necessary 
to  apprise  you,  that  all  prisoners  of  war  taken  by 


584 

the  Russians,  (which  will  certainly  be  your  fate, 
if  you  refuse  the  liberal  offer  I  now  make  you) 
are  invariably  sent  to  Siberia,  nor  will  the  Eng- 
lish ever  interfere  hereafter.  If  you  agree  to 
these  terms,  I  have  authorised  the  commanding 
officer  of  H.  B.  M.  ships  forming  the  blockade 
of  the  Roman  Coast,  to  transport  your  garrison 
with  that  of  Corneta,  to  Corsica  or  France  as 
may  be  most  convenient." 

(1799-)  Commodore  Troubridge,  in  continuation, 
to  Admiral  Lord  Kelson,  Sept.  12.  The  news  of 
Rome  is  very  unfavourable.  Bouchard  has  with 
him  about  2000  Neapolitan  regulars  and  7000 
vagabonds.  The  Romans,  it  is  said,  have  all 
armed  to  resist  him,  declaring  that  the  Neapoli- 
tans are  such  thieves,  no  reliance  can  be  placed 
on  their  word ;  the  Romans  are  determined, 
therefore,  not  to  be  under  their  yoke :  I  wish, 
my  Lord,  there  was  not  so  much  truth  in  what 
they  assert.  Sept.  17.  I  have  great  hope  Louis 
will  succeed  at  Civita  Vecchia;  yesterday,  as  I 
reckon,  he  would  have  sent  my  letter  in.  I  had 
occasion  to  go  to  the  Cardinal  this  morning,  and 
from  him  I  learned  the  Russians  did  not  intend 
to  sail  until  the  18th,  or  the  20th.  I  shall  look 
out  sharp  for  them,  and  be  off  to  Civita  Vecchia 
and  join  Louis,  if  I  do  not  receive  contradictory 
orders  from  your  Lordship.  Of  Civita  Vecchia, 
Sept.  22.  I  sailed  from  Naples  the  18th,  and 
got  here  on  the  20th  at  night.  The  next  morn- 
ing 1  was  joined  by  Captain  Louis,  with  Mino- 


585 

taur,   Perseus,    Mutine,   and  Transfer.     I  found 
Captain  Louis  had   sent  in  my  letter   and  been 
informed  by  the  Commandant   Hennique,    that 
on  account  of  its  importance  it  had  been   for- 
warded to  the  French  commanding  officer,  Gen. 
Gamier,   at  Rome.     It  appeared  to  me  that  the 
General  wished  to  get  off  from  the  Roman  State; 
and  Civita  Vecchia  having  no  powers   to   treat 
separately,   I  took  upon   myself,    without  a  mo- 
ment's loss  of  time,    to  offer  the   Gaieta  terms 
for  all  the  Roman  State,   except  Ancona,    that  I 
might    if  possible   put   his    Sicilian    Majesty   in 
possession;    giving  the    General    twenty   hours 
from  its  reaching  Civita  Vecchia.     If  it  meets 
your  Lordship's  approbation,  I  shall  be  well  sa- 
tisfied in  having  cleared  the  country  of  villanous 
Frenchmen,    who  have  plundered  and  been  such 
a  dreadful  scourge   on  the  Roman  State.     Sept. 
23.  The  Council  the  French  General  talks  of  is, 
the  damned  Ambassador  and  Commissaire,    who 
assume   a   power  over  Gamier.     The  stuff  the 
French  proposed  made  me  sick,  the  Ambassador 
was  the  cause  of  it,  the  thief  is  afraid  to  go  to 
France ;  he  would  sooner  stay  where   he  is  not 
wanted.     He   called  the   Roman   Territory   the 
property  of  the   French  Republic    by  right  of 
conquest ;  I  settled  that  by  saying,  Ifs  mine  by 
reconquest,  and  he  was  silenced.     Sept  27.  I  have 
sent  Louis b  up  to  Bouchard  to  secure  the  tran- 

^  Captain  Louis  was  the  first  British  seaman  who  rowed  up 


586 

quillity   of  Rome.     The  public  property  is  im- 
mense' by  the  French  accounts.     The  Austrians 
offered  any  terms,   but  I  outmanoeuvred  them, 
and  brought  General  Gamier  on  board  the  Cul- 
loden  and -settled  all  as  your  Lordship  will  see. 
I  pray  suspend  your  opinion,  if  you  think  I  have 
acted  wrong,  until  I  have  the  honour  of  seeing  you. 
I  am  sure  I  can  then  give  such  substantial  rea- 
sons for  all  I  have  done,  as  wholly  to  clear  every 
thing.     I  have  received  the  greatest  assistance 
from  Captain  Louis  and   Lieutenant  Schomberg. 
I  really  am  unable  to  write  more — quite  asleep. 
I  never  exerted  myself  more  for  my  own  Sove- 
reign, than  I  have  for  the  King  of  Naples  in  this 
instance.     Sept.  29-  I  have  been  up  all  night  and 
part  of  the  day  with  the  aid  de  camp  of  the  Aus- 
trian General  Frb'lick,   who  had  a  few  men  at 
Toscanella,    &c.  twenty-four  miles  distant  from 
Civita  Vecchia,   and  forty  from  Rome,    not   in 
sufficient  force  to   advance.     Not  having  acted 
with  him,  I  did  not  feel  he  had  any  right  to  sign 
the  capitulation.     At  this  minute  General  Frd- 

the  Tiber  in  his  barge,  hoisted  English   colours  on    the  Capitol, 
and  governed  Rome. 

c  In  a  letter  dated  Oct.  30,  Commodore  Troubridge  informed 
Lord  Nelson,  that  the  Riga  spars  alone  at  Civita  Vecchia  at  a  low 
valuation  were  worth  1500/.  the  ordnance  immense,  and  provi- 
sions to  at  least  40,OOO  dollars.  'A  large  quantity  of  artillery  be- 
longing to  the  King  of  Naples  was  also  found:  with  his  valuabl* 
geographical  and  marine  plates,  those  of  Herculaneum  and  a  va- 
riety of  other  articles  of 'great  value. 


58? 

lick  is  not  nearer  than  twenty  miles  to  Rome. 
September  30  I  have  really  and  truly  a  severe 
task  I  suspect  I  shall  have  to  fight  General 
Frolick :  he  has  attacked  the  French  in  their 
evacuation  of  the  forts.  A  letter  is  this  moment 
arrived  from  Louis.  Rome  was  taken  possession 
of  at  two  o'clock  this  morning  Pray  recom* 
mend  General  Bouchard  in  the  strongest  man- 
ner to  his  Sovereign,  for  his  ready  cooperation 
and  great  exertion :  my  pen  at  present  cannot 
do  him  justice,  I  am  completely  jaded.  The 
gangway  ladder  of  the  Foudroyant  when  at  Na- 
ples, and  the  noise  when  the  King  came  to  the 
gangway,  are  not  equal  to  the  buz  at  my  elbow." 
Lord  Nelson,  with  his  usual  liberality  of  mind 
towards  his  brother  officers,  would  not  himself 
transmit  an  official  account  of  the  surrender  of 
Civita  Vecchia,  but  ordered  Troubridge  to  tell 
his  own  story  in  his  own  way.  <{  I  have  desired 
Commodore  Troubridge,"  said  the  Admiral,  in 
writing  to  the  Secretary  of  the  Admiralty  from 
Palermo,  October  1,  "to  send  for  the  informa- 
tion of  their  Lordships  extracts  of  all  his  letters 
to  me,  with  the  terms  entered  into  with  the 
French  for  the  evacuation  of  the  city  of  Rome, 
and  Civita  Vecchia;  on  which  event  I  sincerely 
congratulate  their  Lorships." 

XII.  (1799.)  In  consequence  of  Sir  Edward 
Berry's  having  joined  the  Foudroyant  in  the  Bull 
Dog,  Capt.  Hardy  was  superseded  and  appointed 
by  Lord  Nelson  to  the  Princess  Charlotte,  until 


588 

the  arrival  of  Captain  Stephenson  ;  and,  on  Cap- 
tain Hardy's  going  afterwards  to  England/  his 
Lordship  wrote,  as  follows,  to  H.  R.  H.  the  Duke 
of  Clarence,  dated  Nov.  9.  "  Sir:  I  beg  leave 
to  present  to  your  Royal  Highness,  Captain 
Hardy,  late  of  the  Foudroyant,  an  Officer  of 
the  most  distinguished  merit,  and  therefore 
highly  worthy  of  your  notice.  He  will  tell  you 
of  my  arduous  work  in  this  country,  and  that 
all  my  anxiety  is  at  present  occasioned  by  the 
desire  of  possessing  Malta.  But  I  fear,  notwith- 
standing my  exertions,  that  I  shall  not  get  any 
British  troops  from  Minorca.  I  am  impatiently 
waiting  the  arrival  of  General  Fox,  and  hope  he 
will  not  consider  the  order  for  the  removal  of  one 
or  two  regiments,  of  such  great  consequence  as 
the  reduction  of  Malta  by  keeping  them  for  two 
months  longer  in  the  Mediterranean.  On  the 
one  hand  they  must,  in  England,  or  on  the  Con- 
tinent, be  like  a  drop  of  water  in  the  ocean.  By 
staying  here  and  being  employed,  they  would 
liberate  us  from  our  enemy  close  to  our  door, 
gratify  the  Emperor  of  Russia,  protect  our  Le- 
vant Trade,  and  relieve  a  squadron  of  our  ships 
from  this  service ;  besides  giving  us  one  80  gun 
ship,  two  40  gun  frigates,  a  Maltese  new  ship  of 
the  line  ready  for  sea,  and  two  frigates.  With 
these  in  the  scale,  I  cannot  comprehend  how  a 

d  Towards  the  end  of  October  1799,  tne  Zealous,  Majestic., 
Goliath,  and  Seahorse,  returned  home. 


589 

moment  can  be  lost  in  deciding ;  but,  Sir,  I  find 
few  think  as  I  do.  To  obey  orders  is  all  per- 
fection :  to  serve  my  King  and  to  destroy  the 
French,  I  consider  as  the  great  order  of  all,  from 
which  little  ones  spring,  and  if  one  of  these  mi- 
litate against  it  (for  who  can  tell  exactly  at  a 
distance)  I  go  back  and  obey  the  great  order 
and  object,  to  down,  down  with  the  damned 
French  villains.  Excuse  my  warmth;  but  my 
blood  boils  at  the  name  of  a  Frenchman.  I  hate 
them  all,  Royalists  and  Republicans." 

Captain  Blackwood  of  the  Penelope,  when  in- 
forming the  Admiral,  Nov.  17,  of  six  vessels  which 
the  boats  of  the  Penelope  and  El  Vincejo  had 
cut  out  from  under  the  batteries  of  Monaco,  sent 
also  the  important  information  which  had  been 
gained  from  one  of  the  Masters  of  those  vessels, 
That  Buonaparte  had  arrived  in  the  Gulph  of 
Frejus  and  immediately  proceeded  to  Paris.  Some 
account  of  the  manner  in  which  he  had  eifected 
his  escape  was  given  by  Sir  Sidney  Smith,  in  a 
letter  to  Lord  Nelson:  <!  The  fugitive  narrowly 
escaped  the  Theseus  and  Turkish  squadron,  that 
were  stationed  to  the  westward  of  Alexandria,  on 
the  probability  of  his  departure,  to  intercept 
him  and  prevent  supplies  from  France  reaching 
Egypt.  Unfortunately  for  the  first  object,  the 
Theseus  had  been  delayed  a  few  days,  whilst 
seeking  provisions,  owing  to  the  perverseness  of 
the  Turkish  Governor  at  Baffo  in  withholding 

o 

the  promised  supply." 


590 

Amidst  the  various  splendid  marks  of  public 
respect  which  Lord  Nelson  at  this  time  received, 
he  was  particularly  gratified  by  a  simple  but 
classic  testimony  from  the  Grecian  community 
of  the  little  Island  of  Zante.  It  consisted  in  a 
golden  headed  Sword  and  a  Truncheon  or  staff 
of  dignity,  set  round  with  a  single  row  of  dia- 
monds, which  were  all  that  could  be  procured  in 
that  Island.  Lord  Nelson,  in  writing  to  Mr. 
Spiridion  Foresti,  the  English  Consul  at  Corfu, 
expressed  his  sense  of  this  high  and  flattering 
honour;  which  he  estimated  as  being  equal  or 
superior,  as  an  acknowledgment  of  his  services, 
to  what  had  been  rendered  by  any  country  to 
any  officer:  "  I  beg,"  added  his  Lordship,  "you 
will  always  say  every  thing  for  me  to  these  good 
people:  If  possible,  I  will  one  day  pay  them  A 
visit. — The  serious  attack  of  Malta  will  com- 
mence in. a  few  days,  our  troops  are  collecting 
for  that  purpose."  The  troops  herein  mentioned 
by  his  Lordship  as  being  intended  for  Malta, 
were  collecting  at  Messina  under  Brigadier  Ge- 
neral Graham,  who  had  at  length  obtained  a  de- 
gree of  restricted  leave  from  General  Fox  to  go 
on  that  service;  so  much  restricted,  especially 
respecting  expense,  that  his  general  instructions 
hardly  seemed  to  admit  of  offensive  operations. 
Sir  T.  Troubridge  had  also  arrived  at  Messina, 
on  the  26th  of  November,  to  give  his  powerful 
assistance  ;  M'hen  finding  that  the  intended  rein- 
forcement Avas  delayed  for  \rant  of  money,  he 


591 

immediately  offered  a  considerable  sum  of  his 
own  to  assist  the  General.  "  I  promised  him, 
my  Lord,"  said  the  Commodore,  "  15000  of  my 
cobs  ;  every  farthing  and  every  atom  of  me  shall 
be  devoted  to  the  Cause.  General  Graham 
seems  the  man  for  service,  things  will  go  well, 
I  shall  now  sleep  easy.  The  General  appeared  to 
think  he  should  want  wine,  I  promised  him  he 
should  not;  and  as  the  army  is  not  supplied  with 
their  dry  and  salt  provisions  from  the  victualling 
board,  we  can  give  them  ours." — Whatever  other 
difficulties  occurred  were  immediately  provided 
against  by  this  zealous  naval  officer  with  equal 
spirit.  They  arrived  off  Malta  on  the  9th  of 
December,  when  General  Graham  found  that 
Colonel  Lindenthal,  a  German  officer  in  our  ser- 
vice, but  bred  in  the  Austrian  etat  major,  had 
been  sent  by  General  Fox  to  make  a  report; 
which  proved  highly  honourable  to  the  abilities 
and  skill  of  Governor  Ball. 

The  state  of  Lord  Nelson's  health  at  this  time 
certainly  required  rest,  but  the  rest  which  he 
most  wanted  could  not  be  found  at  Palermo ; 
every  thing  there  conspired  to  poison  his  mind 
and  so  prevent  its  repose.  In  a  letter  which  he 
received  from  Admiral  Goodall  in  England,  to- 
wards the  close  of  1799,  was  the  following  pas- 
sage :  "  They  say  here,  my  good  Lord,  that  you 
are  Rinaldo,  in  the  arms  of  Armida,  and  that  it 
requires  the  firmness  of  an  Ubaldo  and  his  bro- 
ther knight  to  draw  you  from  the  Enchantress." 


592 

Nor  was  the  warm  and  open  heart  of  Troubridge 
inattentive  to  the  situation  of  his  friend  :  "  Par- 
don me,  my  Lord,  it  is  my  sincere  esteem  for 
you  that  makes  me  mention  it.  I  know  you  can 
have  no  pleasure  sitting  up  all  night  at  cards  ; 
why  then  sacrifice  your  health,  comfort,  purse, 
ease,  every  thing,  to  the  customs  of  a  Country, 
where  your  stay  cannot  be  long  ?  .  . .  Your  Lord- 
ship is  a  stranger  to  half  that  happens,  or  the 
talk  it  occasions;  if  you  knew  what  your  friends 
feel  for  you,  I  am  sure  you  would  cut  all  the 
nocturnal  parties;  the  gambling  of  the  people  at 
Palermo  is  publickly  talked  of  every  where.  I 
beseech  your  Lordship  leave  off.  I  really  feel 
for  the  Country.  How  can  things  go  on  ?  ....  I 
see  that  the  poor  inhabitants  of  Malta  are  to  be 
sacrificed  :  If  the  supplies  are  stopped,  I  cannot 
leave  my  soldiers  to  be  starved,  though  I  shall 
have  the  painful  task  of  abandoning  the  inhabi- 
tants to  their  fate.  I  beseech  your  Lordship 
press  for  a  yes,  or  no.  If  they  say  we  shall  not 
or  cannot  be  supplied,  I  see  nothing  for  it,  but 
to  retreat  as  fast  as  possible."  Lord  Nelson,  in 
replying  to  Sir  Thomas  Troubridge  respecting 
the  provisions,  said,  "  I  cannot  get  the  frigate 
out  of  the  mole,  therefore  I  must  learn  to  be  a 
hard  hearted  wretch,  for  I  fancy  the  cries  of 
hunger  in  my  ears.  I  send  you  orders  for  the 
different  governors.  You  will  see  they  are  for 
the  supply  of  the  army  and  navy ;  therefore 
whatever  Graham  and  you  send  for,  will  if  pos- 


593 

sible  be  granted."      In  a  letter  afterwards   to 

Lord  Keith,   who  had  signified  his  intention  of 

0         \ 
coming  to  Sicily,  Lord  Nelson  added,    "•  Vessels 

are  here  loading  with  corn  for  Malta ;  but  I 
can  neither  get  the  Neapolitan  men  of  war  nor 
merchant  vessels  to  move.  If  I  cannot  get  to 
Malta  very  soon,  I  shall,  from  your  letter,  re- 
main here  to  give  you  a  meeting  and  receive 
your  orders.  I  have  been  trying,  with  SirW. 
Hamilton,  in  which  the  Queen  joins,  to  induce 
the  King  to  return  to  Naples:  but  hitherto  with- 
out effect."  In  writing  about  the  same  time  to 
Colonel  Graham,  his  Lordship  mentioned  his  in- 
tention of  soon  paying  them  a  visit.  "  I  only 
wish,"  added  he,  "that  I  could  always  do  all  you 
ask  me.  It  is  certain  that  you  cannot  go  on  at 
Malta  without  money ;  therefore,  I  declare, 
sooner  than  you  should  want,  I  \vould  sell 
Bronte.  But,  I  trust,  from  General  Fox's  let- 
ter to  me,  that  you  will  have  his  consent  for  v 
ordering  what  money  may  be  necessary." 

(1800.)  The  difficulties  which  Sir  Thomas 
Troubridge  had  experienced,  through  want  of  a  . 
supply  of  corn  from  Palermo,  during  the  preced- 
ing summer,  were  at  the  beginning  of  the  present 
year  greatly  increased  throughout  his  services 
at  Malta.  His  mind  was  also  much  agitated  by 
the  continuance  of  Lord  Nelson  at  Palermo : 
Troubridge's  affection  for  him  was  unbounded, 
and  beino-  fearful  lest  the  remnant  of  the  Nile 

O 

squadron,  which  had  taken  refuge  at  Malta,  might 

2  Q 


594 

in  an  attempt  to  escape  be  captured  without 
presence  of  the  Admiral,  the  dejected  Commo- 
dore thus  expressed  the  warmth  and  disinterest- 
edness of  his  friendship.     "  Malta,  Jan.  1.  My 
Lord  :    We  are  dying  off  fast  for  want.     I  learn, 
by  letters  from.  Messina,  that  Sir  W.  Hamilton 
says,  Prince  Luzzi  refused  corn  some  time  ago, 
and  Sir  W.  does  not  think  it  worth  while  making 
another  application.     If  that  be  the  case,  I  wish 
he  commanded  at  this  distressing  scene  instead 
of  me.     Puglia  had  an  immense  harvest,  near 
thirty  sail  left  Messina  before  1  did  to  load  corn; 
will  they  let  us  have  any?     If  not,   a  short  time 
will  decide  the  business.     The  German  interest 
prevails.     I  wish  I  was  at  your  Lordship's  elbow 
for  an  hour,  all,  all  will  be  thrown  on  you,  rely 
on  it.     I  will  parry  the  blow  as  much  as  is  in  my 
power;   I  foresee  much  mischief  brewing.     God 
bless  your  Lordship — I  am  miserable,    I  oannot 
assist  your   operations  more.     Many  happy  re- 
turns of  this  day  to  you,  I  never  spent  so  miser- 
able an  one.     I  am  not  very  tender  hearted  ;  but 
really  the  distress  here  would  move  even  a  Nea- 
politan.    Jan.  5.  I   have  this  day  saved  30,000 
people  from  dying;  but  with  this  day  my  ability 
ceases.     The  Foudroyant  shall  go  as  complete  to 
your  Lordship  as  !  can  possibly  Jet  her.     If  you 
would  contrive  to  come  here  and  get  the  credit 
of  the  reduction  of  this  very  important  place,  it 
would  much  gratify  all  your  friends,  and  none  more 
than  your  ever  faithful  and  obliged  T.Troubridge." 


595 

(1 800.)  On  the  7th  of  Jan.  Lord  Nelson  sent  this 
friend  word  that  he  would  shortly  come  to  Malta. 
On  the  16th  he  sailed  from  Palermo  in  the  Fou- 
droyant,  and  joined  Lord  Keith  on  the  20th  at 
Leghorn.  On  the  26th  he  left  Leghorn,  and  touch- 
ing at  Palermo  in  his  way,  proceeded  on  his 
voyage  to  Malta.  On  the  10th  of  February  the 
Squadron  under  his  command  captured  le  Gene- 
reux  of  74  guns,  bearing  the  flag  of  Rear  Ad- 
miral Pere"e,  Commander  in  chief  of  the  French 
naval  force  in  the  Mediterranean,  having  a  num- 
ber of  troops  on  board  from  Toulon,  bound  for 
the  relief  of  Malta,  together  with  a  storeship,  the 
Ville  de  Marseilles,  and  dispersed  the  remainder 
of  Admiral  PereVs  squadron. 

Whilst  off  Malta,  Lord  Nelson  found  his  health 
So  indifferent,  that  he  requested  permission  of 
the  Commander  in  Chief  to  return  again  to  Pa- 
lermo. He  however  remained  off  Malta  until  the 
8th  of  March,  and  then  finding  himself  daily 
growing  M'orse,  with  an  internal  complaint  to 
which  he  had  been  long  subject,  he  again  re- 
quested a  short  leave  of  absence,  and  on  the 
16th  returned  to  Palermo.  Lord  Keith  replied 
to  Lord  Nelson  on  the  20th  of  March  from  Leg- 
horn :  "  I  learn  with  sincere  concern  your  Lord- 
ship's ill  state  of  health,  and  your  intention  of 
returning  to  Palermo  at  so  momentous  a  period  ; 
particularly,  as  I  hear  that  Sir  Thomas  Trou- 
bridge  is  still  confined  by  illness,  and  under  the 
late  misfortune  of  the  loss  of  the  Queen  Charlotte, 


596 

I  have  no  means  of  returning  to  carry  on  the 
service  before  Malta  myself.  I  must,  however, 
request  that  your  Lordship  will  not  delay  a  mo- 
ment in  ordering  Sir  Edward  Berry  off  Malta; 
and,  in  the  event  of  the  Guillaume  Tell's  escape 
from  la  Valette,  either  that  ship  or  the  Northum- 
berland may  be  directed  to  follow  her  off  Toulon, 
and  thereafter  to  join  me  in  the  gulf  of  Genoa." 
(1800.)  The  escape  of  the  Guillaume  Tell  from 
Malta  had  been  carefully  provided  against  by 
Governor  Ball  and  Sir  Thomas  Troubridge;  both 
of  whom  informed  Lord  Nelson  that  such  an 
event  might  be  daily  expected.  The  day  the 
Foudroyant  arrived,  the  Guillaume  Tell  started 
about  twelve  that  night:  they  immediately  made 
the  signal  from  the  shore,  and  in  half  fen  hour 
our  ships  were  firing  at  her.  They  saw  the  firing 
on  the  shore,  it  was  a  fine  night,  until  four  mi- 
nutes past  four,  increasing  its  distance,  steering 
to  the  N.  E. — As  Captain  Manley  Dixon,  in  his 
official  letter  to  Sir  Thos.  Troubridge  declared, 
the  Guillaume  Tell  was  of  the  largest  dimensions, 
and  carried  thirty-six  pounders  on  the  lower  gun 
deck,  twenty-four  pounders  on  the  main  deck, 
twelve  pounders  on  the  quarter  deck,  and  thirty- 
two  pound  carronades  on  the  poop:  Her  force 
altogether  consisted  of  86  guns  and  1220  men, 
bearing  the  flag  of  Contre  Admiral  Decr&s.  If 
the  Foudroyant  had  not  arrived  so  opportunely, 
the  Lion  and  Penelope  would  have  been  no  match 
for  her;  and  yet  the  latter  ship  was  so  well  fought 


597 

by  Captain  Blackwood,  as  to  render  most  essen- 
tial service.  "  I  have  to  inform  you,"  said  Captain 
Dixon,  in  writing  to  Commodore  Troubriclge, 
March  31,  "  that  the  signal  rockets  and  canno- 
nading from  our  batteries  at  Malta  the  midnight 
preceding,  with  the  favourable  strong  southerly 
gale,  together  with  the  darkness  which  succeeded 
the  setting  of  the  moon,  convinced  me  the  enemy's 
ships  of  war  were  attempting  to  effect  an  escape  ; 
and  which  was  immediately  ascertained  by  that 
judicious  and  truly  valuable  officer,  Captain  Black- 
wood,  of  the  Penelope,  who  had  been  stationed  a 
few  hours  before  between  the  Lion  and  la  Valette 
for  the  purpose  of  observing  closely  the  motions 
of  the  enemy.  Nearly  at  midnight  ,an  ene.my's 
ship  was  descried  by  him  ...  I  lost  not  one  mo- 
ment in  making  the  signal  for  the  Squadron  to 
cut  or  slip,  and  directed  Captain  Miller  of  the 
Minorca  to  run  down  to  the  Foudroyant  and 
Alexander6  with  the  intelligence,  and  to  repeat 
the  signal ...  As  the  day  broke  I  found  myself  in 
gun  shot  of  the  chace,  and  the  Penelope  within 
musket  shot  raking  her,  the  effects  of  whose  well 
directed  fire,  during  the  night,  had  shot  away 
her  main  and  mizen  topmasts  and  main  yard. 
The  Lion  was  run  close  alongside,  the  yard 
arms  of  both  ships  being  just  clear,  when  a  de- 
structive broadside  of  three  round  shot  in  each 
gun  was  poured  in,  luffing  up  across  live  bow, 

•  Lieutenant  Harrington  acting. 


598 

when  the  enemy's  jib  boom  passed  between  the 
main  and  mizen  shrouds.  After  a  short  interval, 
I  had  the  pleasure  to  see  the  boom  carried  away 
and  the  ships  disentangled,  maintaining  a  posi- 
tion across  the  bow,  firing  to  great  advantage. 
I  found  it  absolutely  necessary,  if  possible,  to  keep 
from  the  broadside  of  this  ship.  After  being 
engaged  about  fifty  minutes,  the  Foudroyant 
was  seen  under  a  press  of  canvas,  and  soon  passed 
hailing  the  enemy  to  strike,  which  being  de- 
clined, a  very  heavy  fire  from  both  ships,  broad- 
side to  broadside,  was  most  gallantly  maintained ; 
the  Lion  and  Penelope  frequently  in  situations 
to  do  great  execution.  In  short,  Sir,  after  the 
hottest  action  that  probably  was  ever  maintained 
by  an  enemy's  ship  opposed  to  those  of  his  Ma- 
jesty, and  being  totally  dismasted,  the  French 
Admiral's  flag  and  colours  \vere  struck. 

"  I  have  not  language  to  express  the  high 
sense  of  obligation  I  feel  myself  under  to  Captain 
Blackwood,  for  his  prompt  and  able  conduct  in 
leading  the  line  of  battle  ships  to  the  enemy;  for 
the  gallantry  and  spirit  so  highly  conspicuous  iu 
him,  and  for  his  admirable  management  of  the 
frigate.  The  termination  of  the  battle  must  be 
attributed  to  the  spirited  fire  of  the  Foudroyant, 
whose  Captain,  Sir  Edward  Berry,  has  justly 
added  another  laurel  to  the  many  he  has  gained 
during  the  war.  Capt.  Blackwood  speaks  in  very 
high  terms  of  the  active  and  gallant  conduct  of 
Capt.  Long,  of  the  Vincejo,  during  the  night;  and 


599 

I  beg  to  mention  the  services  of  Captains  Brough- 
ton  and  Miller.  I  received  the  greatest  possible 
assistance  from  Lieutenant  Joseph  Patey,  senior 
officer  of  the  Lion,  and  from  Mr.  Spence,  the 
master,  who  together  with  the  officers  and  ship's 
company  shewed  the  most  determined  gallantry. 
'Captains  Sir  Edward  Berry,  and  Blackwood,  have 
reported  to  me  the  same  gallant  and  animated 
'behaviour  in  the  officers  and  crews  of  their  re- 
spective ships.  I  am  sorry  to  say  the  three  ships 
have  suffered  much  in  killed  and  wounded,  and 
that  of  the  enemy  prodigiously,  it  being  upwards 
•of  200." 

(1800.)  Lord  Nelson  on  the  1 6th  of  April, 'sailed 
again  for  Malta,  and  was  accompanied  thither 
by  Sir  W.  and  Lady  Hamilton,  with  whom,  after 
remaining  there  some  time,  he  returned  again  to 
Palermo,  and  immediately  prepared  to  go  to 
England  ;  and  to  accompany  the  Queen  of  Na- 
ples on  her  intended  visit  to  Vienna.  On  the 
8th  of  June  he  sailed  from  Palermo/  with  the 
-Foudroyant  and  Alexander ;  on  board  of  which 
were  the  Queen  of  Naples,  the  three  Princesses 
and  Prince  Leopold,  Sir  William  and  Lady  Hamil- 
ton, Prince  Castelcicala,  and  their  attendants. 
On  the  14th  of  June,  they  arrived  at  Leghorn  ; 
and  from  thence  proceeded  to  Florence.  Passing 

f  Previous  to  Lord  Nelson's  leaving  Sicily,  the  King  invested 
him  with  the  Order  of  St.  Ferdinand,  of  which  he  was  the  first 
Knight  after  the  Royal  Family.  This  Order  has  the  especial  pri- 
vilege of  being  covered  in  the  King's  presence. 


600 

through  Ancona  and  Vienna,  where  he  left  the 
Queen  and  had  been  introduced  by  her  Majesty 
to  the  Emperor  and  Empress;  his  Lordship  visited, 
by  express  desire,  the  gallant  Archduke  Charles 
at  Prague.  From  Prague  he  went  to  Dresden, 
Magdeburgh  and  Hamburg,  and  landed  at  Yar- 
mouth, Nov.  6,  1800.  His  Lordship  arrived  in 
London,  with  Sir  William  and  Lady  Hamilton, 
on  the  Qth  of  November ;  and,  with  them,  went 
immediately  to  his  venerable  Father  and  Lady 
Nelson.  Their  joy  was,  however,  mingled  with 
sorrow  ;  and  on  first  meeting  after  so  long  an  ab- 
sence, the  presence  of  Sir  W.  and  Lady  Hamilton 
added  to  a  disquietude,  which  if  they  had  inno- 
cently been  the  cause  of,  they  should  have  care- 
fully endeavoured  not  to  aggravate.  The  exul- 
tation that  prevailed  throughout  the  metropolis, 
on  the  arrival  of  the  British  Hero,  formed  an  ex- 
traordinary contrast  with  the  depression  of  his 
own  mind  ;  and  afforded  a  memorable  example 
of  the  inefficacy  of  all  earthly  rewards.  At  the 
civic  feast  of  the  city  of  London  on  Monday  the 
10th  of  November,  his  Lordship  was  nobly  re- 
ceived by  Sir  W.  Staines,  the  new  Lord  Mayor, 
and  was  presented  with  the  valuable  Sword  which 
the  metropolis  had  voted  after  the  victory  of 
Aboukir.  The  gratitude  of  his  native  Country 
was  also  shewn  in  every  manner,  that  could  most 
publicly  display  the  general  sense  of  his  splendid 
achievements.  Wherever  he  appeared,  he  was 
followed  with  mingled  astonishment  and  even 


601 

veneration  by  the  thronging  multitude,  as  a 
being  of  a  superior  nature.  To  use  the  words  of 
the  biographer  of  Lorenzo  de  Medici,  '  On  all 
sides  he  touched  the  extremes  of  human-  charac- 
ter ;  and  the  powers  of  his  mind  were  only 
bounded  by  that  impenetrable  circle  which  pre- 
scribes the  limits  of  human  nature.'s 

^Etat.n43.  XIII.  THE  gloom  which  had  long  im- 
pended over  the  private  happiness  and  even 
public  services  of  Lord  Nelson,  was  not  dispersed 
by  his  return  to  his  native  Country.  His  mind 
was  affected  by  an  extraordinary  power,  which 
almost  merited  the  term  Enchantment,  and  had 
resisted  the  entreaties  and  remonstrances  of  his 
numerous  friends ;  many  of  whom  lost  his  con- 
fidence, by  a  vain  endeavour  to  restore  the  na- 
tural bias  of  his  affectionate  but  too  susceptible 
heart.  In  taking  his  final  leave  of  Lady  Nelson 
on  the  13th  of  January,  1801,  he  acted,  however 
wrong,  with  that  greatness  and  liberality  of  mind 
which  nothing  could  subdue  :  '  I  call  God  to  wit- 
ness,' exclaimed  he,  '  there  is  nothing  in  you  or 
your  conduct  I  wish  otherwise.'  This  formed  a 
most  striking  epocha  in  his  eventful  life,  and  as 
such  deserves  to  be  noticed.  The  remaining 
portion  of  his  biography  is,  therefore,  exclusively 
devoted  to  his  more  splendid  public  character ; 
to  those  astonishing  and  important  services, 
which  he  rendered  to  his  Country  when  she  most 

*  Roscoe's  Life,  Vol.  II.  page  328,  8vo.  cd. 


602 

required  them  .  each  of  which  claimed  a  distinct 
praise,  as  surpassing  what  had  preceded  it  by 
some  new  proof  of  professional  Enterprise  and 
Ability. 

(1801.)  On  the  first  day  of  the  year,  his 
Lordship  was  advanced  Vice  Admiral  of  the 
Blue :  previous  to  which  Captain  Hardy  had 
been  appointed  his  Captain  on  board  the  Namur 
at  Plymouth,  until  the  San  Josef,  112  guns, 
could  be  got  ready  for  his  flag,  which  was  hoisted 
on  board  that  ship  at  Plymouth,*1  January  17, 
1801,  and  afterwards  shifted  to  the  St.  George, 
preparatory  to  his  going  to  the  Baltic  as  second 
in  command  under  Sir  Hyde  Parker.  Abaut  the 
20th  of  February  he  sailed  from  Torbay  in  the 
St.  George  for  Portsmouth,  and  from  thence 
proceeded  to  Yarmouth. 

The  subsequent  Narrative  of  the  Battle  of 
Copenhagen  is  chiefly  taken  from  a  valuable 
Memoir  which  an  Ofticer  who  was  with  Lord 
Nelson  has  furnished,  and  from  the  interesting 
Memoranda  of  another  eye-witness,  Mr.  Fergu- 
son, a  military  surgeon  who  attended  on  Colonel 
Stewart. 

"  On  the  12th  of  March,"  (says  the  Memoir,) 
"  the  fleet  consisting  of  about  fifty  sail,  sixteen  of 

h  During  the  Admiral's  continuance  at  Plymouth  he  was  seized 
with  a  violent  ophthalmia  in  his  only  remaining  eye,  w\\h  a 
most  acute  pain  and  total  want  of  sight.  He  was  attended  by 
Dr.  Trotter,  and  in  a  few  days  was  enabled  to  resume  his  ser- 
vices. 


603 

which  were  of  the  line,  put  to  sea.  On  the  15th 
we  encountered  a  heavy  gale  of  wind,  which  in 
some  measure  scattered  the  fleet  and  prevented 
our  reaching:  the  Naze  until  the  18th.  On  the 

O 

2 1st  it  blew  hard  :  we  anchored  for  twenty  four 
hours,  and  did  not  arrive  off  the  point  of  Elsineur 
until  the  24th.  On  the  26th,  the  Elephant,  Cap- 
tain Foley,  and  another  74  had  joined  the  Fleet, 
and  on  the  29th,  Lord  Nelson  shifted  his  flag 
from  the  St.  George  to  the  Elephant,  in  order  to 
carry  on  operations  in  a  lighter  ship.  Both  the 
28th  and  29th  of  March  were  unfortunately 
calm :  orders  had,  however,  been  given  for  the 
Fleet  to  pass  through  the  Sound  as  soon  as  the 
wind  should  permit.  At  daylight  on  the  morn- 
ing of  the  3()th  it  blew  a  topsail  breeze  from 
N.  W  :  The  signal  was  made,  and  the  Fleet  pro- 
ceeded in  the  order  of  battle  previously  arranged; 
Lord  Nelson's  division  in  the  van,  the  Commander 
in  Chief's  in  the  centre,  and  Admiral  Graves's  in 
the  rear.  The  Danish  Batteries  opened  a  fire,  as 
we  understood,  with  nearly  100  pieces  of  cannon 
and  mortars,  as  soon  as  our  leading  ship,  the 
Monarch,  came  abreast  of  them ;  and  they  con- 
tinued in  one  uninterrupted  blaze  during  the 
passage  of  the  Fleet,  to  the  no  small  amusement 
of  our  crews  ;  none  of  whom  received  injury,  ex- 
cept from  the  bursting  of  one  of  our  own  guns. 
Some  of  our  leading  ships  at  first  returned  a  few 
rounds,  but  perceiving  the  inutility,  desisted. 
The  whole  came  to  anchor  about  midday,  be- 


604 

tween  the  island  of  Huen,  and  Copenhagen  ;  the 
division  under  Captain  Murray  following,  as  soon 
as  the  main  body  had  passed.     The  night  of  the 
30th  of  March  was  employed  by  some  of  the  in- 
telligent masters  and  pilots,  under  the  direction 
of  Captain  Brisbane,  in  ascertaining  the  channels 
round  the  great  Shoal  called  the  Middle  Ground, 
and  in  laying  down  fresh  buoys,  the  Danes  having 
either  removed  or  misplaced  the  former  ones. 
On  the  next  day,  the  Commander  in  Ch,ief  and 
Lord  Nelson,   proceeded  in  the  Amazon  frigate, 
Captain  Riou,   to  the  examination  of  the  Nor- 
thern Channel  and  of  the  flotilla  from  the  east- 
ward,  and  after  some  hours  survey  returned  to 
the  Fleet.     A  Council  of  War  was  held  in  the 
afternoon,    and  the  mode  which  might  be  advi- 
sable for  the  attack  was  considered  :  that  from 
the  eastward  appeared   to  be  preferred.     Lord 
Nelson  offered  his  services,  requiring  ten  line  of 
battle  ships  and  the  whole  of  the  smaller  craft. 
The  Commander  in  Chief,  with  sound  discretion 
and  in  a  handsome  manner,   not  only  left  every 
thing  to  Lord  Nelson  for  this  detached  service, 
but  gave  him  two  more  line  of  battle  ships  than 
he  demanded.     The  night  of  the  31st  of  March 
was  employed  as  the  preceding,  in  ascertaining, 
even   by  buoy  lights,   the  course  of  the  Upper 
Channel.       Captain    Brisbane    was   particularly 
active  on  this  service,    conducted   under  Lord 
Nelson's  immediate  directions." 

"On  the  first  of  April  in  the  afternoon,  w 


605 

took  our  departure  with  twelve  sail  of  the  line, 
and  a  proportional  number  of  smaller  vessels, 
from  the  main  body  of  the  Fleet  then  lying  about 
four  miles  below  Copenhagen  ;  and  coasted  along 
the  outer  edge  of  the  Shoal  called  the  Middle 
Ground,  until  we  doubled  its  farthest  extremity, 
when  the  Fleet  cast  anchor.  The  Shoal,  of  the 
same  extent  as  the  sea  front  of  the  town,  lies 
exactly  before  it  at  about  three  quarters  of  a 
mile  in  distance  ;  the  interval  between  it  and  the 
shore  had  deep  water,  and  is  called  the  King's 
Channel :  there  the  Danes  had  arranged  their 
Line  of  Defence  as  near  the  town  as  possible. 
It  consisted  of  nineteen  ships  and  floating  bat- 
teries, flanked  at  the  town's  extremity  by  two 
artificial  islands  at  the  mouth  of  the  Harbour, 
called  the  Crown  Batteries;  and  extended  for 
about  a  mile  along  the  whole  front  of  the  town, 
leaving  intervals  for  the  Batteries  on  shore  to 
play.  As  our  own  anchor  dropped  at  eight  in  the 
evening,  Nelson  emphatically  called  out,  /  will 
fight  them  the  moment  I  have  a  fair  wind.  He 
spent  the  whole  night  in  consultation.  With  the 
returning  light,  the  wind  had  been  announced 
as  becoming  perfectly  fair,  and  at  half  past  nine 
the  signal  was  given  to  weigh  in  succession. 
This  was  quickly  obeyed  by  the  Edgar,  Avho  pro- 
ceeded in  a  noble  manner  for  the  Channel.  The 
Agamemnon  was  to  follow,  but  happened  to  take 
a  course  in  a  direct  line  for  the  end  of  the  shoal. 
The  Polyphemus'  signal,  Captain  Lawford,  was 


606 

then  made,  and  this  change  in  the  order  df  sail- 
ing  was  most  promptly  executed.     The  Poly- 
phemus was  followed  hy  the  Isis,   Bellona,  and 
Russel ;     the   former,    commanded   by  Captain 
Walker,  took  her  station  most  gallantly,  and  had 
the   severest  birth   this   clay   of  any   ship,    the 
Monarch  perhaps   not  excepted.      The  Bellona 
and  Russel  in  going  down  the  Channel  kept  too 
close  on  the  starboard  shoal,  and  ran  aground; 
they  were,   however,  within  range  of  shot,   and 
continued  to  lire  with  much  spirit  upon  such  of 
the  Enemy's  ships  as  they  could  reach.     In  suc- 
cession,  as  each  ship  arrived  nearly  opposite  to 
her  number  in  the  Danish  line,    she  let  her  an- 
chor go  by  the  stern,   the  wind  nearly  aft,   and 
presented  her  broadside  to  the  Enemy. 

'The  Action  began  at  five  minutes  past  ten. 
In  about  half  an  hour  afterwards  the  first  half  of 
our  fleet  was  engaged,  and  before  half  past  eleven 
the  Battle  became  general.  The  Elephant's  sta- 
tion was  in  the  centre,  opposite  to  the  Danish 
Commodore,  who  commanded  in  the  Dannebrog, 
62,  Commodore  Fischer,  Captain  F.  Braun.  The 
Glatton  had  her  station  immediately  astern  of  us, 
the  Ganges,  Monarch  and  Defiance  ahead  ;  the 
distance  between  each  not  exceeding  a  half 
cable.  The  judgment  with  which  each  ship  cal- 
culated her  station  in  that  intricate  channel,  was 
admirable  throughout.  The  failure  of  the  three 
ships  that  were  aground  and  whose  force  was  to 
have  been  opposed  to  the  Trekroner  battery,  left 


607 

fchis  day,  as  glorious  for  seamanship  as  for  cou- 
rage, incomplete." 

"  About  one  P.  M.  few  if  any  of  the  Enemy's 
heavy  ships  and  praams  had  ceased  to  fire.     The 
Isis  had  greatly  suffered  by  the  superior  weight 
of  the  Provestein's  fire  ;  and  if  it  had  not  been 
for  the  judicious  diversion  of  it  by  the  Desire" e, 
Captain  Inman,   who  raked  her,   and  for  other 
assistance  from  the  Polyphemus,  the  Isis  would 
have   been   destroyed.     The  Monarch  was  also 
suffering  severely  under  the   united  fire  of  the 
Holstein  and  Zealand  ;  the  Elephant  was  warmly 
engaged  by  the  Dannebrog,   and  by  two  heavy 
praams  on  her  bow  and  quarter.     Signals  of  dis- 
tress were  on  board  the  Bellona  and  Russel,  and 
of  inability  from  the  Agamemnon-.     The  Contest 
in  general,  although  from  the  relaxed  state  of  the 
Enemy's  fire  it  might  not  have  given  room  for 
much  apprehension  as  to  the  result,  had  certainly 
at   one  P.   M.  not  declared   itself  in   favour  of 
either    side.     About   this  juncture,    and  in  this 
posture  of  affairs,   the  signal  was  thrown  out  on 
board    the    London,    for    the    Action    to   cease. 
Lord  Nelson  was  at  this  time,  as  he  had  been 
during  the  whole  Action,  walking  the  starboard 
side  of  the  quarter  deck;  sometimes'mueh  ani- 
mated, and  at  others  heroically  fine  in  his  obser- 
vations.    When  the  signal  was  made,  the  signal 
Lieutenant  reported  it  to  him. — He  continued 
his  walk,  and  did  not  appear  to  take  notice  of  it. 
The  Lieutenant  meeting  his  Lordship  at  the  next 


608 

turn,  asked,  Whether  he  should  repeat  it  ?  Lord 
Nelson  answered  No,  acknowledge  it.  This  re- 
markable Signal  was  therefore  only  acknow- 
ledged on  board  of  the  Elephant,  not  repeated." 
"The  Action  now  continued  with  unabated 
vigour.  About  two  P.  M.  the  greater  part  of  the 
Danish  line  had  ceased  to  fire  :  the  taking  pos- 
session of  such  ships  as  had  struck,  was  however 
attended  with  difficulty  ;  partly  by  reason  of  the 
batteries  on  Amak  Islan'd  protecting  them,  and 
partly  because  an  irregular  fire  was  made  on  our 
boats,  as  they  approached,  from  the  ships  them- 
selves. Lord  Nelson  naturally  lost  temper  at 
this,  and  observed,  "  That  he  must  either  send 
on  shore  and  stop  this  irregular  proceeding,  or 
send  in  our  fire  ships  and  burn  them."  He  ac- 
cordingly retired  into  the  stern  gallery  and 
wrote,  with  great  despatch,  that  well-known  let- 
ter addressed  to  the  Crown  Prince,  with  the  ad- 
dress, To  the  brothers  of  Englishmen,  the  brave 
Danes:  and  in  order  to  shew  that  no  hurry  had 
ensued  upon  the  occasion,  he  sent  for  a  candle  to 
the  Cockpit,  and  affixed  a  larger  seal  than  usual. 
This  letter  was  conveyed  on  shore  through  the 
contending  Fleets  by  Captain  Sir  Frederick  The- 
siger,  who  acted  as  his  Lordship's  Aid-de-Camp; 
and  who  found  the  Prince  near  the  sally  port. 
While  the  boat  was  absent,  the  animated  fire  of 
the  ships  ahead  of  us,  and  the  approach  of  two 
of  the  Commander  in  Chief's  division,  the  Rami- 
lies  and  Defence,  caused  the  remainder  of  the 


609 

Enemy's  line  to  the  eastward  of  the  Trekroner 
to  strike.  The  firing  from  the  Crown  battery 
and  from  our  leading  ships  did  not  cease  until 
past  three  o'clock;  when  the  Danish  Adjutant 
General,  Lindholm,  returning  with  a  flag  of 
truce,  directed  the  fire  of  the  Battery  to  be  sus- 
pended. The  signal  for  doing  the  same,  on  our 
part,  was  then  made  from  our  ship  to  those  en- 
gaged ;  and  the  action  closed  after  five  hours' 
duration,  four  of  which  were  warmly  contested. 
''The  answer  from  the  Prince  Regent  was  to 
inquire  more  minutely  into  the  purport  of  the. 
Message,  and  the  following  reply  was  returned  : 
'  Lord  Nelson's  object  in  sending  the  Flag  of 
Truce  was  Humanity  :  he  therefore  consents  that 
hostilities .  shall  cease,  and  that  the  wounded 
Danes  may  be  taken  on  shore.  And  Lord  Nel- 
son will  take  his  prisoners  out  of  the  vessels,  and 
burn  and  carry  off  his  prizes  as  he  shall  think  fit. 
Lord  Nelson,  with  humble  duty  to  H.  R.  H.  the 
Prince  of  Denmark,  will  consider  this  the  greatest 
Victory  he  has  ever  gained,  if  it  may  be  the 
cause  of  a  happy  reconciliation  and  union  be- 
tween his  own  most  gracious  Sovereign,  and  his 
Majesty  the  King  of  Denmark.' — His  Lordship, 
having  finished  this  letter,  referred  the  Adjutant 
General  to  the  Commander  in  Chief,  who  was  at 
anchor  at  least  four  miles  off,  and  followed  him 
about  four  o'clock  to  the  London,  where  that  ne- 
gociation  first  began,  which  terminated  in  an 
honourable  peace." 

2  R 


610 

"  Early  in  the  morning  of  the  3d  of  April,  whent 
it  was  scarcely  light,  Lord  Nelson  repaired,  in 
his  gig,  (his  usual  conveyance)  on  board  of  our 
ship  the  Elephant.  On  the  4th  he  left  the  ship, 
accompanied  by  Captains  Hardy  and  Fremantle, 
and  was  received  with  all  possible  attention  from 
the  Prince.  The  Negociation  continued;  and 
the  interim  between  the  4th  and  9th  of  April, 
was  employed  in  destroying  the  prizes,  refitting 
the  fleet,  and  in  taking  a  position  with  the  Bomb 
Vessels  and  Gun  Brigs,  in  order  to  open  the  bom- 
bardment in  the  event  of  hostilities  being  re- 
newed. On  the  9th,  Lord  Nelson  landed  again, 
and  was  escorted  to  the  Palace,  surrounded  by 
an  immense  crowd,  who  shewed  more  satisfac- 
tion on  this  occasion  than  on  the  preceding 
one.  The  Commissioners,  who  were  appointed 
to  adjust  the  terms  of  an  Armistice,  proceeded  to 
business  without  delay.  The  duration  of  the 
Armistice  could  not  however  be  adjusted  ;  and 
the  conference  broke  up  at  two  o'clock,  for  re- 
ference to  the  Crown  Prince.  A  levee  was  con- 
sequently held  in  one  of  the  state  rooms,  and  his 
Lordship  then  proceeded  to  a  grand  dinner  up 
stairs,  the  Prince  leading  the  way.  They  were 
afterwards  closeted  together  for  some  time,  and 
the  Prince  at  length  acceded  to  an  Armistice  of 
fourteen  Mreeks  duration  ;  to  which  Lord  Nelson 
assenting,  with  the  reservation  of  the  approval  of 
the  Commander  in  Chief,  the  party  returned  on 
board."  On  the  succeeding  day,  April  70,  the 


611 

Danish  Commissioners  repaired  to  the  London, 
wliere  the  Terms  were  finally  ratified  by  the 
Commander  in  Chief.  Previous  to  the  conven- 
tion of  the  9th,  the  whole  of  the  Danish  prisoners 
were  sent  on  shore,  and  receipts  had  for  6,000 
killed,  wounded,  and  taken  on  the  2d.  The 
Prizes,  which  amounted  to  six  line  of  hattle  ships 
and  eight  praams,  exclusive  of  one  line  of  battle 
ship  and  two  smaller  craft  burnt  and  sunk  during 
the  Action,  were  all  destroyed,  excepting  the 
Holstein  ;  she  was  sent  to  England  with  wounded 
men,  under  the  charge  of  that  excellent  medical 
officer  Surgeon  Ferguson,  who  had  volunteered 
his  services  with  Colonel  Stewart  during  the  ser- 
vice, and  whose  professional  skill  acquired  him 
the  high  opinion  of  Lord  Nelson.  The  measure 
of  destroying  the  Prizes  was  much  regretted, 
but  deemed  necessary  by  the  Commander  in 
Chiefj  with  a  view  to  the  ulterior  active  services 
of  his  Fleet. 

The  Commander  in  Chief,  Sir  Hyde  Parker, 
throughout  the  whole  of  this  most  arduous  en- 
terprise, and  in  the  difficult  situation  in  which 
he  was  ultimately  placed,  certainly  preserved  a 
candid  and  honourable  conduct.  Sir  Hyde's  be- 
haviour to  Lord  Nelson,  which  has  been  com- 
mended in  the  previous  Memoir  of  this  Battle, 
•was  rendered  still  more  liberal  by  the  manner 
in  which  he  closed  his  Official  Letter . . .  '  His 
Lordship  has  stated  so  fully c  the  whole  of  his 
proceedings  on  that  day,  as  only  to  leave  me  the 
c  Vide  Quarto  Edit.  vol.  ii.  p.  277.  et  seq. 


612 

opportunity  to  declare  my  entire > acquiescence 
and  testimony,  of  the  Bravery  and  Intrepidity 
with  which  the  Action  was  supported  throughout 
the  line ;  were  it  possible  for  me  to  add  any 
thing  to  the  well-earned  renown  of  Lord  Nelson, 
it  would  be  by  asserting,  that  his  exertions, 
great  as  they  have  heretofore  been,  never  were 
carried  to  a  higher  pitch  of  Zeal  for  his  Country's 
service.  I  have  only  to  lament  that  the  sort  of 
attack,  confined  within  an  intricate  and  narrow 
passage,  excluded  the  ships  particularly  under 
my  command  from  the  opportunity  of  exhibiting 
their  valour  ;  but  I  can  with  great  truth  assert, 
that  the  same  Spirit  and  Zeal  animated  the  whole 
of  the  Fleet.' 

(1801.)  The  Memoir  of  the  Battle,  which 
has  already  detailed  the  various  occurrences  that 
took  place  at  Copenhagen,  to  the  conclusion  of 
the  Armistice,  next  retraces  Lord  Nelson's  pro- 
ceedings, from  his  being  appointed  Commander 
in  Chief,  as  successor  to  Sir  Hyde  Parker.  This 
intelligence  had  been  conveyed  to  him,  by 
Colonel  Stewart  on  his  return  from  England 
where  he  had  gone  with  despatches ;  and  but 
for  this  appointment,  such  was -the  precarious 
state  of  his  Lordship's  health,  that  he  had  deter- 
mined on  returning  home  in  the  Blanche,  on  the 
very  day  when  the  account  arrived. — "  The  first 
Signal,"  says  the  Memoir,  "  which  Lord  Nelson 
made,  as  Commander  in  Chief,  was  to  hoist  in  all 
launches  and  prepare  to  weigh.  This  at  once 


613 

shewed  how  different  a  system  was  about  to  be 
pursued  :  it  having  been  intended,  that  the  Fleet 
should  await  at  anchor  fresh  instructions  from 
England  relative  to  the  state  of  the  northern 
affairs,  an  account  of  which  had  but  lately  been, 
despatched.  On  the  7th  of  May,  the  Fleet  left 
Kioge  Bay,  and  proceeding  towards  Bornholm, 
anchored  in  blowing  weather  off  that  island.  A 
favourable  wind  brought  us,  on  the  12th  of  May, 
into  Revel  Roads,  where  he  was  rather  dis- 
appointed at  not  finding  the  Russian  Fleet:  the 
early  breaking  up  of  the  ice  had  enabled  it  to 
proceed  to  Cronstadt,  three  days  before  our  ar- 
rival. We  came  to  anchor  in  the  outer  bay,  and 
Lord  Nelson  having  been  invited  by  the  Gover- 
nor, went  on  shore  about  noon  on  the  13th  of 
May,  and  was  received  with  all  military  honours. 
His  letter  having  been  forwarded  to  the  Emperor, 
great  activity  was  exerted  in  providing  the  Fleet 
with  fresh  meat  and  vegetables,  and  the  interval 
was  employed  by  his  Lordship  in  observation, 
and  in  acquiring  information  of  the  harbour, 
mole  and  anchorage.  On  the  I6ih  of  May, 
about  three  P.  M.  the  answer  to  Lord  Nelson's 
letter  was  received  from  Petersburg!!.  It  was  in 
terms  expressive  of  surprise  at  the  arrival  of  a 
British  Fleet  in  a  Russian  port;  it  professed  ami- 
cable intentions  towards  the  British  Govern- 
ment, but  declined  the  personal  visit  of  the 
Admiral  at  the  Capital,  if  accompanied  by  more 
than  a  single  ship.  Lord  Nelson  received  it  a 


614 

few  minutes  before  dinner  time;  he  appeared  to 
be  a  good  deal  agitated  by  it,  but  said  little,  and 
did    not   return   an   immediate    reply.     During 
dinner,   however,   he  left  the  table,   and  in  less 
than  a  quarter  of  an  hour  sent  for  me  to  peruse 
a  letter  which,    in   that  short  absence,   he  had 
composed.     This  remarkable  sentiment  was,   I 
remember,  in  it,  The  word  of  a  British  Admiral, 
when  giren  in  explanation  of  any  part  of  his  con- 
duct,  was  as  sacred  as  that  of  any  Sovereign  in 
Europe:  It  concluded  with  his  intention  of  re- 
tiring with  his  Fleet  from  the  coasts  of  Russia. 
The  signal  for  preparing  to  weigh  was  immedi- 
ately made ;   the  answer  above  mentioned  was 
sent  on  shore,  and  although  contracts  had  been 
entered  into  for  fresh   provisions,   &c.  for  the 
Fleet,  his  Lordship  would  not  admit  of  the  least 
delay  ;  but  caused  it  to  weigh  and  to  stand  as  far 
to  sea  as  was  safe  for  that  evening.     It  was  only 
dark  for  an  hour  or  two,  during  which  time  we 
lay  to,  and  at  dawn  of  day  proceeded  down  the 
Baltic.     When  off  Bornholm,  we  were  joined  by 
the  Squadron   under  Captain   Murray.     A   de- 
tachment from   the  Fleet  was  then  sent  off  to 
Kioge  Bay,   and  another  to  Dantzic,  while  Lord 
Nelson  himself  proceeded  with   a  few  ships  to 
Rostock  B?.y," 

"  At  Rostock  not  an  hour  was  lost  in  procuring 
fresh  provisions  for  the  Fleet.  The  greatest  ve- 
neration was  here  shewn  to  the  name  of  Nelson  ; 
and  some  distant  inland  towns  of  Mecklinburgh, 


615 

sent  even  deputations,  with  their  public  books  of 
record,  to  have  his  name  written  in  them  by 
himself.  Boats  were  constantly  rowing  round  his 
flag  ship  the  St.  George  with  persons  of  respect- 
ability in  them,  who  were  anxious  to  catch  a 
momentary  sight  of  this  illustrious  man.  He 
did  not  again  land  whilst  in  the  Baltic  ;  his  health 
was  not  good,  and  his  mind  was  not  at  ease : 
with  him  mind  and  health  invariably  sympathised. 
The  day  after  our  arrival  off  Rostock,  on  the 
£6th  of  May,  180],  a  Russian  lugger  brought  the 
reply  from  Count  Pahlen,  to  Lord  Nelson's  letter 
written  on  leaving  Revel.  The  effect  intended 
by  that  letter  had  been  fully  felt  at  Petersburg!) : 
a  more  flattering  communication  was  perhaps 
never  made  from  a  Sovereign  to  the  subject  of 
another  power,  than  was  conveyed  in  the  Minis- 
ter's reply.  It  apologized  for  any  misconception 
of  his  Lordship's  views  in  having  entered  Revel 
roads,  it  expressed  an  anxious  wish  that  Peace 
should  be  restored  on  the  most  solid  basis;  and 
in  a  particular  manner  invited  Lord  Nelson  to 
St.  Petersburgh,  in  whatever  mode  might  be 
most  agreeable  to  himself.  The  lugger,  on  leav- 
ing our  Fleet  with  Lord  Nelson's  answer  to  this 
gracious  letter,  fired  a  salute ;  an  act  which 
implies  much  more  in  the  Russian  service  than  in 
many  others.  Lord  Nelson's  observation  to  me, 
on  my  return  from  the  shore,  was,  Did  you  hear 
that  little  fellow  salute?  Well  now,  there  is  peace 


616 

with  Russia,  depend  on  it:  Our  jaunt  to  Revel 
was  not  so  bad  after  alt. 

"  After  being  at  anchor  some  days  off  Rostock, 
AVC  returned  to  Kioge  Bay  on  the  5th  or  6th  of 
June,  but  remained  there  only  to  complete  our 
water,  which  could  not  be  clone  at  Rostock,  and 
to  arrange  the  stations  of  the  various  Squadron* 
that  were  constantly  kept  on  the  move.  Lord 
Nelson's  principle  was  to  keep  all  hands  employed, 
and  he  used  to  say,  No  matter  hozv,  and  no  matter 
where.  The  St.  George  made  her  last  cruise 
with  Lord  Nelson's  flag  on  board,  off  Bornholm, 
between  the  9th  and  13th  of  June  ;  on  which 
latter  day  he  received  the  sanction  of  the  Ad- 
miralty for  his  return  to  England,  and  the  in- 
structions of  his  Majesty  to  invest  Rear  Admiral 
Graves  with  the  Order  of  the  Bath.  This  cere- 
mony was  performed  with  all  possible  dignity  on 
the  14th  of  June,  on  the  quarterdeck  of  the  St. 
George,  Lord  Nelson  laying  the  Sword  on  the 
Rear  Admiral's  shoulder  in  the  name  of  the  King; 
lie  accompanied  this  by  a  very  dignified  and  ani- 
mated speech.  Sir  Charles  Maurice  Pole  arrived 
a  few  days  afterwards  in  the  JEolus  frigate,  and 
received  the  chief  command."  On  the  19th 
Lord  Nelson  embarked  in  the  Kite  brig,  Captain 
Digby,  and  sailed  for  England.  By  this  last 
act,  in  declining  the  use  of  a  frigate,  he  shewed 
his  usual  preference  for  the  good  of  the  Service, 
over  every  consideration  of  personal  convenience. 


617 

Few  Admirals,  dignified  as  he  justly  was,  have 
chosen  to  return  from  their  station  in  so  small  a 
vessel.  He  landed  at  Yarmouth  on  the  first 
of  July,  and  immediately  visited  the  Hospitals 
where  the  wounded  had  heen  conveyed  after  the 
Battle  of  Copenhagen.  He  was  escorted  to 
Lowestoffe  by  the  volunteer  cavalry;  and  on  his 
arrival  in  London  proceeded  to  the  house  of  Sir 
William  Hamilton. 

(1801.)  XIV.  During  the  summer  Govern- 
ment received  intelligence  that  the  Invasion  of 
Great  Britain  by  France  might  be  certainly  ex- 
pected, and  the  general  wish  of  the  Nation  that 
Lord  Nelson  should  be  the  guardian  of  that  part 
of  its  southern  coast,  where  it  was  expected  the 
Enemy  would  make  the  attempt,  was  gratified 
by  the  plan  which  the  vigilance  of  Earl  St.  Vin- 
cent had  proposed,  of  placing  the  whole  of  the 
force  applicable  to  that  particular  service,  under 
the  command  of  Lord  Nelson,  who  was  to  have 
no  other  duty  ta  perform,  than  that  of  attending 
to  this  important  object.  He  accordingly  pro- 
ceeded to  the  Coast,  and  on  the  30th  of  July 
hoisted  his  flag  in  the  Downs.  His  private  let- 
ters to  Earl  St.  Vincent d  contain  a  detail  of  what 
he  called  "  this  boat  warfare"  on  the  coast  of 
France;  which,  he  added,  «'  is  not  exactly  con- 
genial to  my  feelings,  and  I  find  I  get  laughed 
at  for  my  puny  mode  of  attack."  A  serious 
attack  was  however  made  on  the  French  Flo- 

4  Vide  Quarto  Edit.  vol.  ii.  pages  293—304. 


618 

tilla  outside  the  pier  of  Boulogne^  on  the  15th 
of  August,  and  on  the  16th  he  sent  the  follow- 
ing account  of  it,  dated  on  board  the  Medusa, 
off  that  Port :  "  My  dear  Lord  :  I  am  sorry  to  tell 
you  that  I  have  not  succeeded  in  bringing  out  or 
destroying  the  Enemy's  Flotilla,  moored  in  the 
mouth  of  the  harbour  of  Boulogne.  The  most 
astonishing  Bravery  was  evinced  by  many  of  our 
officers  and  men,  and  Captains  Somerville,  Cot- 
grave,  and  Parker  exerted  themselves  to  the 
utmost."  (Captain  Jones  owing  to  the  rapidity 
of  the  tide  was  driven  to  the  westward  of  the 
line.)  "  Con  in  the  command  of  the  Howitzer 
Boats  did  every  thing  which  was  possible:  indeed 
all  behaved  well,  and  it  was  their  misfortune  to 
be  sent  on  a  Service  in  which  the  precautions  of 
the  Enemy  had  rendered  it  impossible  to  succeed. 
We  have  lost  many  brave  officers  and  men,  172 
killed  and  wounded.  My  gallant,  dear  friend, 
Captain  Parker,  who  was  my  Aid-de-Camp,  had 
his  thigh  very  much  shattered  ;  1  have  my  fears 
for  his  life.  Lieutenant  Frederick  Langford,  my 
Flag  Lieutenant,  who  has  served  with  me  many 
years,  was  shot  through  the  leg  in  attempting, 
with  Parker,  to  board  the  French  Commodore. 
The  Flotilla,  Brigs  and  Flats,  were  moored  by  the 
bottom  to  the  shore,  and  to  each  other  with 
chains ;  therefore  although  several  of  them  were 
carried,  yet  the  very  heavy  fire  of  musketry  from 
the  shore  which  overlooked  the  Flotilla,  forced 
our  people  to  desist,  without  being  able,  as  I  ajn 


told,  to  set  them  on  fire.     No  person  can  be 
blamed  for  sending  them  to  the  attack  but  my- 
self.    I  knew  the  difficulty  of  the  undertaking-, 
therefore  I  ventured  to  ask  your  opinion.     Your 
kind  letter  I  received  half  an  hour  before   the 
Attack.     Captain  Somerville,  whom  I  never  saw 
until  a  few  days  ago,  shewed  all  possible  courage 
and  good  conduct,  and  succeeded  completely  in 
the  fighting  part  of  the  business."     Lord  Nelson 
in  his  public  letter  added,  "  Owing  to  the  dark- 
ness of  the  Night,  with  the  tide  and  half  tide, 
which  must  always  make  attacks  in  the  Night, 
on  the  Coasts  of  the  Channel,   very  uncertain, 
the  Divisions  separated  ;  and  from  all  not  arriv- 
ing at  the  same  happy  moment   with  Captain 
Parker,  is  to  be  attributed  the  want  of  success. 
But  I  beg  to  be  perfectly  understood,  that  not 
the  smallest  blame  attaches  itself  any  where  : 
for  although  the  Divisions  did  not  arrive  alto- 
gether, yet  each,  except  the  Fourth  which  could 
not  be  got  up  before  day,   made  a  successful  at- 
tack on  that  part  of  the  enemy  they  fell  in  with, 
and  actually  took  possession  of  many  Brigs  and 
Flats,  particularly  the  Commodore.    The  moment 
the  Battle  ceased  on   board,   such  vollies  upon 
vollies  of  musquetry  were  fired  directly  on  the 
decks,  the  Enemy  being  perfectly  regardless  of 
their  own  men,  that  it   was  impossible  even  to 
remain  on  board  to  burn  them.     Allow  me,  who 
have  seen  much  service  this  War,   to  say,  That 
more  determined,  persevering  Courage,  I  never 


620 

witnessed ;  and  that  nothing  but  the  impossibility 
of  being  successful,  from  the  Causes  I  have  men- 
tioned, could  have  prevented  my  having  to  con- 
gratulate their  Lordships  on  bringing  off  the 
Enemy's  Flotilla." 

(1801.)  Lord  Nelson  retained  his  command 
until  October;  on  the  10th  of  which  month 
General  Lauriston,  first  Aid  de  Camp  to  Buona- 
parte, arrived  in  London  with  the  ratification  of 
the  Preliminaries  of  Peace.  The  manner  in 
which  the  Mob  complimented  this  French  Officer 
gave  great  offence  to  Nelson;  and  in  writing 
to  Dr.  Baird  the  next  day,  he  said,  "  Can  you 
cure  Madness  ?  for  I  am  mad  to  read  that  Eng- 
lishmen dragged  a  Frenchman's  carriage.  I  am 
ashamed  for  my  Country."  In  a  letter  to  Mr.  Da- 
vison,  his  Lordship  afterwards  observed,  "  Eng- 
land called  loudly  for  Peace,  and  now  I  see  it  is 
to  be  abused ;  but  Englishmen  never  are  satis- 
fied full  nor  fasting." — :Again,  in  a  letter  to  Earl 
St.  Vincent,  "  Most  heartily  do  I  congratulate 
you  on  being  a  member  of  that  Administration, 
which  has  been  able  to  comply  with  the  almost 
unanimous  wishes  of  the  Country.  All  hands 
must  now  try  to  keep  French  Men  and  French 
Principles  out  of  our  happy  Country." 

Lord  Nelson  soon  afterwards  returned  to  Eng- 
land, and  went  to  the  Villa  he  had  purchased  at 
Merton.  One  of  the  first  steps  which  he  appears 
to  have  taken  afterwards,  was  addressing  a  letter 


621 

to  the  Lord  Mayor,  respecting' the  silence  in 
which  the  Victory  of  Copenhagen  had  been 
passed  over  by  the  City  of  London.  The  Admiral 
notices  this  remonstrance  when  writing  to  Earl 
St.  Vincent  from  Merton,  Nov.  20,  and  after- 
wards thus  expressed  himself  on  the  subject  to 
Mr.  Davison :  "  The  City  of  London  has  never 
yet  failed  noticing  Sea  Victories,  and  I  trust,  as 
the  first  commercial  City  in  the  World,  Jt  never 
will.  I  remember  a  few  years  back,  on  my  ob- 
serving to  a  Lord  Mayor,  that  if  the  City  con- 
tinued its  generosity,  we  should  ruin  them  by 
their  Gifts,  his  Lordship  put  his  hand  on  my 
shoulder  and  said,  '  Do  you  find  Victories  and  zee 
will  Jind  Rewards.'  I  have  kept  my  word,  and 
have  since  found  two  complete  Victories — I  have 
a  fair  and  honourable  claim ;  my  part  of  the 
contract  has  been  now  doubly  fulfilled." 

(1802.)  On  the  26th  of  April,  Lord  Nelson  lost 
his  excellent  Father,  who  expired  at  Bath  in  the 
79th  year  of  his  age.  He  had  been  previously  af- 
flicted by  the  death  of  his  early  friend  and  patron 
Lieutenant  Governor  Locker,  at  Greenwich  Hos- 
pital; and  in  order  to  recruit  his  health  and 
spirits,  in  the  month  of  July  made  a  tour  into 
Wales,  with  Sir  W.  and  Lady  Hamilton.  The 
Freedom  of  the  cities  of  Monmouth,  Hereford, 
and  Worcester  was  presented  to  his  Lordship  in 
the  most  complimentary  manner;  and  the  grati- 
tude of  his  country-men  was  publicly  displayed 
throughout  the  whole  excursion.  On  returning- 


622 

to  Merton  his  time  was  principally  occupied  in 
his  little  farm,  and  in  directing  the  altera- 
tions he  had  projected.  "  I  am  really,"  said 
he  in  writing  to  Mr.  Davison  in  October,  "so 
very  little  in  the  world,  that  I  know  of  nothing1 
beyond  a  newspaper.  I  own  myself  selfish  enough 
to  wish  you  in  St.  James's  Square  ;  for  at  your 
breakfast  I  heard  all  that  was  going  on  in  the 
great  world,  and  it  was  a  central  place  where 
any  one  could  meet  me.  I  have  seen  Mr.  Ad- 
dington  and  Lord  St.  Vincent  several  times ;  but 
our  conversations  were  like  Swift's  and  Lord 
Oxford's.  Yet  it  was  not  difficult  to  discover, 
that  we  felt  our  importance  in  the  scale  of  Europe 
degraded,  if  Buonaparte  were  allowed  to  act  as 
he  has  lately  done ;  and  that  it  was  necessary  for 
us  to  speak  a  dignified  language." 

After  the  Battle  of  Copenhagen  his  Majesty 
had  created  the  noble  Admiral  a  Viscount,  and 
during  the  month  of  August,  1801,  the  Pa- 
tent of  Entail  of  his  Lordship's  rank  was  an- 
nounced, in  which  the  Dukedom  of  Bronte  was 
first  mentioned.  These  honours  were  entailed 
on  his  Lordship's  Father,  and  after  his  death  on 
the  Rev.  Dr.  William  Nelson,  his  only  surviving 
Son:  and  in  case  of  default  of  heirs  male  from  that 
branch,  they  were  also  entailed,  first  on  the  heirs 
male  of  his  Lordship's  sister  SUSANNAH,  who  had 
married  Mr.  Bolton,  and  secondly  on  the  heirs' 
male  of  his  Lordship's  sister  CATHARINE,  who 
had  married  Mr.  Matcham. 


623 

Anno  (1803.)  XV.  On  the  breaking  out 
/Etat.  45.  Qf  ^g  present  War,  Lord  Nelson  was 
appointed  Commander  in  Chief  in  the  Mediter- 
ranean, of  which  he  received  official  notice  on 
the  16th  of  May.  On  the  18th  he  left  London 
very  early,  and  arriving  about  noon  at  Ports- 
mouth, hoisted  his  flag  on  board  the  Victory, 
Captain  S.  Sutton,  Captain  George  Murray  first 
Captain  ;  and  sailed  on  the  20th,  in  company 
with  the  Amphion,  Captain  T.  M.  Hardy.  On 
the  2'2d,  they  went  to  the  black  Rocks  off  Brest 
to  meet  Admiral  Cornwallis,  who  had  been  blown 
off  his  station  ;  and  it  blowing  strong  all  day  on 
the  23d,  his  Lordship,  in  obedience  to  his  orders, 
shifted  his  flag  on  board  the  Amphion,  and  pro- 
ceeded to  the  Mediterranean.  He  immediately 

tf 

entered  upon  the  duties  of  his  station  with  his 
accustomed  Energy,  and  on  the  28th  of  June, 
sent  a  vey  luminous  view6  of  the  Mediterranean 
States  to  Mr.  Addington,  dated  Amphion,  be- 
tween Sardinia  and  Naples.  In  July  he  arrived 
off  Toulon,  and  on  the  30th  of  that  month,  the 
Victory  having  joined  the  Fleet,  Lord  Nelson 
shifted  his  flag  on  board  from  the  Amphion.  The 
subsequent  Narrative  principally  consists  of  a 
selection  from  the  extensive  Correspondence 
which  his  Lordship  carried  on  with  the  Ministers 
at  home,  with  the  different  States  in  the  Medi- 
terranean, and  with  various  eminent  Officers  ia 

•  Vide  Quarto  Edit.  vol.  ii.  p.  31 6. 


624 

the  Navy  and  Army  with  whom  he   was   asso- 
ciated. 

(1803.)  To  Mr.  Addinglon,  -August  24,  off 
Toulon. — "I  am  looking  for  the  French  Squadron, 
perhaps  you  may  think  impatiently;  but  I  have 
made  up  my  mind  never  to  go  into  port  until 
after  the  Battle,  even  if  they  should  make  me 
wait  a  year;  provided  the  Admiralty  change  the 
ships  which  cannot  keep  the  Sea  in  winter,  ex- 
cept Victory,  Canopus,  Donegal,  and  Belleisle, 
This  day  only  six  men  are  confined  to  their  beds 
in  the  whole  Squadron.  August  25.  My  station 
to  the  westward  of  Toulon,  an  unusual  one,  has 
been  taken  upon  an  idea  tfiat  the  French  Fleet  is 
bound  out  of  the  Straits,  and  probably  to  Ireland. 
It  is  said  10,000  men  are  collecting  at  Toulon. 
I  shall  follow  them  to  the  Antipodes.  September 
27.  The  French  are  not  yet  out,  although  about 
a  fortnight  ago  they  made  an  appearance  of 
doing  so ;  indeed  some  of  their  ships  were  out- 
side of  the  harbour,  but  I  rather  think  it  was  to 
get  some  exercise.  However  they  took  Wit  in 
their  Anger  and  returned  again.  The  Spaniards  are 
now  so  very  uncivil  to  our  ships,  that  I  suppose  we1 
.shall  not  be  much  longer  friends.  I  have  written 
to  Mr.  Frere  at  Madrid,  to  entreat  that  he  would 
take  every  possible  means  to  give  me  the  earliest 
information  of  hostilities;  and  have  pointed  out 
to  him  the  length  of  time  which  would  elapse  be- 
fore I  could  know  it  through  England,  and  the 
very  great  importance  of  my  knowing  it.  Oct. 


025 

6.  The  French  Admiral  mounted  yesterday  morn  - 
ir.g  his  Sea  Vane,  which  a  landsman  would  not 
notice;  but  it  gives  a  certainty  to  my  mind  that 
they  wish  to  put  to  sea,  anjl  never  was  a  Squa- 
dron of  British  ships  more  anxious  to  meet  them. 
'Till  the  Battle  is  over  I  hope  to  write  to  you  no 
more ;  whether  I  survive  it  or  not,  my  name 
shall  never  bring  a  blush  on  my  friends." 

(1803.)  To  H.  R.  H.  the  Duke  of  Clarence,  off 
Toulon,  Oct.  1,5.  "  I  am  absolutely,  Sir,  begin- 
ning this  letter  in  a  fever  of  the  mind  :  It  is 
thick  as  butter  milk,  and  blowing  a  Levanter, 
and  the  Narcissus  has  just  spoke  me  to  say,  '  she 
boarded  a  Vessel,  and  they  understood  that  the 
men  had  seen,  a  few  days  before,  twelve  Sail  of 
Ships  of  War  off  Minorca.  It  was  in  the  dusk, 
and  he  did  not  know  which  way  they  were  steer- 
ing.' This  is  the  whole  Story  and  a  lame  one. 
On  the  8th  the  French  Fleet,  as  counted  by  Cap- 
tain Boyle,  was  eight  Sail  of  the  Line,  four  Fri- 
gates, and  some  Corvettes.  On  the  9th  it  blew 
a  tremendous  Storm  at  N.  W.  which  lasted  till 
the  12th,  since  which  time,  although  Seahorse 
and  Renown  are  endeavouring  to  reconnoitre,  it 
is  so  thick  that  I  do  not  think  they  can  either 
see  into  Toulon,  or  find  me  if  they  do,  Your 
Royal  Highness  will  readily  imagine  my  feelings, 
although  I  cannot  bring  my  mind  to  believe 
they  are  actually  out;  but  to  miss  them — God 
forbid  !  They  are  my  Superior  in  numbers,  but 
in  every  thing  else,  I  believe,  I  have  the  happi- 

2  s 


626 

ness  of  commanding  the  finest  Squadron  in  the 
World,  Victory,  Kent,  Superb,  Triumph,  Belleislc, 
and  Renown  !  If  I  should  miss  these  Fellows, 
my  heart  will  break.  Oct.  \6.  The  Seahorse 
(Captain  C.  Boyle)  spoke  me  in  the  Night;  and 
made  known  that  the  Enemy  were  in  the  same 
state  as  when  last  reconnoitred  on  the  8th :  I 
believe  this  was  the  only  time  in  my  Life,  that  I 
was  glad  to  hear  the  French  were  in  Port." 

(1803)  On  the  24th  of  October,  his  Fleet  being 
very  short  of  water,  and  not  finding  either  the 
Renown  or  Canopus',  which  had  been  detached, 
join,  the  Admiral  determined  to  go  to  the  An- 
chorage amongst  the  Madelena  Islands  to  the 
north  of  Sardinia,  where  Sir  R.  Bickerton  had 
been  previously  sent  by  an  Admiralty  order  from 
Sir  Thomas  Troubridge.  Capt.  Ross  Donnelly 
was  accordingly  left  with  the  Narcissus  and  Sea 
Horse,  Hon.  C.  Boyle,  to  watch  the  French  Fleet. 
The  entrance  to  this  Anchorage  through  the 
Straits  of  Bonifaccio  was  at  all  times  perilous, 
owing  to  sunken  rocks  over  which  the  passage 
lay  ;  and  these  dangers  were  then  increased  by 
heavy  gales  with  dark  and  squally  weather.  Some 
of  the  ships  passed  in  so  extraordinary  a  manner, 
that  their  Captains  could  only  consider  it  as  a 
providential  interposition  in  favour  of  the  great 
Officer  who  commanded  the  Fleet.  On  the  31st 
they  anchored  in  Agincourt  Sound,  and  on  the 
following  morning  Lord  Nelson  despatched  a  let- 
ter to  the  Marquis  de  St.  Andr£,  Viceroy  of  Sar- 


627 

dinia,  informing  his  Excellency  of  the  arrival  of 
the  Fleet  at  that  place,  for  the  purpose  of  getting 
refreshments  for  the  Crews ;  and  in  writing  at 
the  same  time  to  Mr.  Jackson,  his  Lordship  thus 
expressed  his  opinion  of  the  anchorage  :  "  What 
a  noble  harbour  is  formed  by  these  islands,  the 
world  cannot  produce  a  finer.  This  is  not  a  very 
plentiful'place,  but  stiil  I  hope  we  shall  be  al- 
lowed to  purchase  what  we  can  obtain  for  our 
money  ;  for  the  stated  supplies  of  thirty  bullocks 
for  each  ship  might  do  very  well,  if  they  each 
weighed  7i)()lb,  but  what  we  get  are  only  from 
150  to  200ib :  and  although  the  King  of  Sardinia 
may  not  be  at  war  with  the  French,  yet  if  for 
want  of  refreshments  this  Fleet  _  be  laid  up, 
I  believe  the  French  would  not  scruple  to  take 
Sardinia  and  Sicily.  The  Sardinians  generally 
speaking  are  attached  to  us;  but  there  are  French 
intriguers  amongst  them,  and  I  understand  they 
hope  to  bring  about  a  revolt."  On  the  7th  of 
November  the  Fleet  unmoored  and  proceeded  to 
its  Station  off  Toulon;  and  on  the  24th  was  joined 
by  the  Excellent,  74,  Captain  Sotheron,  from 
England. 

To  Earl  St.  Vincent,  off  Palma,  Dec.  12. — "  I 
have  received  your  kind  letters  by  the  Excellent, 
which  joined  me  on  the  24th  of  November.  The 
Station  I  chose  to  the  westward  of  Sicie,  was  to 
answer  two  important  purposes;  one,  to  prevent 
the  junction  of  a  Spanish  Fleet  to  the  westward, 
and  the  other  to  be  to  windward  so  as  to  enable 

a  s  2 


628 

me,  if  the  north  easterly  gale  came  on  to  the 
N.  N.  W.  or  N.  N.  E.  to  take  shelter  in  a  few 
hours  either  under  the  Hieres  Islands  or  Cape  St. 
Sebastian  ;  and  I  have  hitherto  found  the  advan- 
tage of  that  position.  Spain  having  settled  her 
Neutrality,  I  am  taking  my  winter's  station  un- 
der St.  Sebastian  to  avoid  the  heavy  seas  in  the 
Gulf,  and  shall  keep  frigates  off  Toulon.  From 
September,  we  have  experienced  such  a  series  of 
bad  weather  as  is  rarely  met  with  ;  and  I  am 
sorry  to  say,  that  all  the  ships  which  have  been 
from  England  in  the  late  war  have  severely  felt 
it.  I  had  ordered  the  transports,  with  provisions, 
to  meet  me  at  St.  Pierres,  but  as  yet  they  have 
not  made  their  appearance  ;  and  although  this 
day  we  average  three  months  provisions,  yet  I 
wish  to  keep  them  complete  to  near  five  months. 
I  know  no  way  of  watching  the  Enemy  but  to 
be  at  sea,  and  therefore  good  ships  are  necessary. 
The  Superb  is  in  a  very  weak  state ;  but  Keats 
is  so  superior  to  any  difficulties,  that  I  hear  but 
little  from  her.  Sir  Richard  Bickerton  is  a  very 
steady  good  Officer,  and  fully  to  be  relied  upon. 
George  Campbell  you  know." 

(1803.)  To  Sir  T.  Troubridge,  Dec.  21,  off  Cor- 
sica.— "  Were  I,  my  dear  Troubridge,  to  begin 
describing  all  the  complaints  and  wants  of  this 
Fleet,  it  would  be  exactly  the  same,  1  dare  say, 
as  you  receive  from  all  other  stations  ;  but  as  it 
can  be  attended  with  no  good  effect,  I  shall  save 
myself  the  trouble  of  writing,  and  you  of  reading 


629 

them.     The  storekeeper  has  sent  two  ships  to  the 
Adriatic  to  land  hemp,  and  therefore  1  hope  that 
M'e  shall  in  time  get  rope  to  supply  our  wants.8 
The  Kent  is  gone  to  Malta,   fit  only  for  a  sum- 
mer's passage.     They  are  still  under  such  alarm 
at  Naples,  that  I  cannot  withdraw  the  Gibraltar. 
I  have  submitted  to  Sir  Richard  Strachan,  whether 
the  state  of  the  French  ships  at  Cadiz  would  allow 
of  his  coming  to  me  for  six  weeks?  for  although 
I  have  no  fears  of  the  event  of  a  Battle  with  six 
to  their  eight,  yet  if  I  can   have  eight  to  their 
eight  I  shall  not  despise  the  equality.     I  have 
just  been  to  the  southern  end  of  Sardinia.,  having 
ordered  the  transports  with  provisions  to  meet 
me  at  St.  Pierre's;  but  it  blew  such  a  tremendous 
storm,   that  we  could  not  get  in.     It   however 
turned  out  fortunate,    for  after  the  gale  we  got 
into  the  Gulf  of  Pal  ma,  which  is  without  excep- 
tion the  finest  open  roadstead  I  ever  saw.     I  shall  " 
send  you  the  plan  of  it    and    soundings,    taken 
by  the  Master  of  the  Victory,   an  eleve  of  Hallo- 
well's  ;   I   have  him  here  to  make  him  a  Lieute-  • 
nant.     I  have  six  frigates  and   sloops   watching 
the  French  Army  in  the  Adriatic  and  at  the  mouth 
of  the  Archipelago." 

On  leaving  the  Bay  of  Palma,   the  Fleet  being 

g  Instructions  had  been  sent  out  by  our  Government  to  Mr. 
Eton,  who  had  been  appointed  the  superintendant  of  Quarantine 
at  Malta,  to  proceed  to  the  Black  Sea,  and  purchase  in  the  Rus- 
sian dominions  a. certain  proportion  of  Naval  Stores  and  Provision* 
for  the  supply  of  qur  Fleet  in  the  Mediterranean. 


630 

in  want  of  water,  Lqvd  Nelson  stood  again  for 
Agincourt  Sound,  Madelcna  Islands,  and  on  the 
21st  of  Dec.  sent  Caj.-t.  R.  Donnelly  to  ascertain 
whether  the  French  Fleet  was  still  in  Toulon. 

(1803.)  In  writing  towards  the  close  of  this 
year  to  Governor  Sir  T.  Trigge  at  Gibraltar,  Lord 
Nelson  mentioned  the  relative  state  of  his  own 
force  with  that  of  the  b Enemy.  "  I  am  sorry, 
(added  he)  to  be  obliged  to  take  Donegal  from 
your  vicinity  for  a  few  weeks,  but  the  absence 
of  Kent,  Stately,  and  Gibraltar,  which  are  never 
likely  to  be  of  any  service  again  in  this  Country, 
renders  it  absolutely  necessary  with  the  present 
Fleet  of  the  Enemy ;  they  are  now  ten  to  our 

h  List  of  the  British  and  French  Fleets  in  the  Mediterranean  at 
the  close  of  1803 }  as  sent  by  Lord  Nelson. 

FRENCH. 
(As  given  in  a  list  found  on  board  a  captured  French  schooner.) 

Neptune 80        Intrepide 74 

Formidable 80         Atlas 74 

Indomptable 80         Hannibal ^  .  .  74 

Mont  Blanc 74         Swiftsure v .  74 

Scipion 74         Berwick 74 

BRITISH. 

Victory 100        Excellent 74 

Canopus 80         Triumph 74 

Superb 74         Renown 74 

Belleisle 74 

Early  in  the  ensuing  year  the  Royal  Sovereign  for  the  flag  of  Su- 
fi. Bickerton,  and  \\icLc-vi.thnn,  were  sent  lo  the  Mediterranean, 
appears  by  Admiralty  letter,  Jan.  13,  lbO4.  And  it  wns  also  the 
intention  of  the  Board  to  send  out  1GO  men,  and  the  same  number 
of  boys,  if  they  could  be  raised,  to  supply  the  deficiencies  in  the 
complements  of  the  Mediterranean  Fleet. 


631 

seven,  and  although  I  have  no  fears  for  the  re- 
sult of  a  Battle  with  our  present  force,  yet  if  I 
could  have  more  and  had  not,  I  should  consider 
myself  very  reprehensihle." 

4  (1804.)  On   the  4th  of  January,  the 

Fleet  weighed  at  day  light  from  the  Ma- 
delena  Islands,  and  in  consequence  of  informa- 
tion they  received,  his  Lordship  directed  Captain. 
Parker  of  the  Amazon  to  remain  at  anchor,  and 
use  his  utmost  endeavours  in  preventing  the  In- 
vasion of  the  French,  and  give  every  aid  and 
assistance  in  his  power  to  the  inhabitants  should 
it  he  attempted.  In  a  letter  on  the  first  of  Ja* 
nuary  to  Sir  R,  Eickerton,  the  Admiral  had  in- 
formed him,  that  General  Colli,  an  old  Piedmon- 
tese  Officer,  or  his  son,  was  at  Ajaccio  to  come 
over  with  the  Expedition,  and  all  the  refugee 
Sardes  were  ordered  to  be  assembled  there, 
victualled,  and  to  receive  pay  every  day.  "  I 
have  the  Order,"  added  he,  "  signed  Berfhier, 
taken  in  a  packet  boat  a  few  clays  ago  by  a  Gib- 
raltar privateer." 

The  conduct  of  Spain  towards  Great  Britain, 
in  refusing  to  furnish  our  Fleet  with  supplies, 
roused  the  indignation  of  Nelson,  and,  in 
writing  to  Mr.  Frere,  January  23,  he  thus  ex- 
pressed his  sentiments.  "  if  this  goes  on,  you 
may  acquaint  them  that  I  will  anchor  in  Roses 
with  the  squadron,  and  receive  our  daily  sup- 
plies, which  will  offend  the  French  much  more 
than  our  staying  at  sea.  Refreshments  we  Uave 


632 

a  right  to,  as  long  as  we  remaiu  at  peace." — In 
another  letter  on  the  same  day  to  Mr.  Frere,   he 
added,  •'  I  have  just  received  information  which 
leads  me   to  believe,    that  the  French  Fleet   is 
either  at  sea  or  on  the  eve  of  it,  and  hound  to 
the  eastward,    towards  Naples  or  Sicily.     I  am 
this  moment  making  sail  in  the  direction  I  think 
most  likely  to  intercept  them." — On  the  26'th  of 
January,  our  Fleet  accordingly  anchored  at  Ma- 
delena,   as   a   central  situation   which  defended 
Sardinia,  and  enabled  the  Admiral  to  cover  Na- 
ples, and  to  be  in  the  way  of  meeting  the  Enemy 
should   they   be   bound  elsewhere.     "  I  am  dis- 
tressed," said  he  in  writing  to  Sir  John  Acton  on 
the  30th,   "  for  frigates,  which  are  the  Eyes  of  a 
Fleet;    for  the  terrible  winter  we  have  had,    has 
obliged  me  to  send  three  into  port  to  be  refitted: 
however,  I  trust,  we  shall  fall  in  with  the  Enemy 
and   do    the   business.     Your  Excellency  knows 
that  with  all  the  care  and  attention  possible,   it 
has  happened  that  fleets  have  passed  each'other  ; 
therefore  I  need  not  apprise  you,  how  necessary 
it  is  to  keep  a  good  look  out  for  them." — On  the 
8th  of  February  Lord   Nelson  again  took  shelter 
in  Madelena  harbour  from  the  blowing  and  se- 
vere weather  that  prevailed.     According  to  his 
Diary,  "  The  Fleet  ran  in  under  reefed  foresails 
through  the  Eastern  Passage,    which  looked  tre- 
mendous from  the   number  of  rocks,    and   the 
heavy  sea  breaking  over   them;   but  it  is   per- 
fectly safe  when  once   known.     Captain  Rives" 


633 

mark  of  the  pedestal  rock  car  never  be  mis- 
taken." 

(;80k )  Notwithstanding  his  intelligence  of 
the  Toulon  Fleet  heing  ready  to  put  to  sea, 
which  the  Admiral  continued  to  receive,  they 
were  still  unwilling  to  encounter  an  inferior 
force,  commanded  by  Nelson,  and  remained  in 
port.  A  small  squadron  of  Frencn  frigates, 
however,  got  along  shore  into  Ville  Tranche ; 
and  under  cover  of  the  dark  nights,  during  the 
northerly  gales  of  wind,  crossed  over  to  Corsica 
with  1000  men.  From  the  number  of  troops  at 
that  time  collecting  in  the  south  of  France  and 
northern  parts  of  Italy,  together  with  the  prepa- 
ration of  transports  both  at  Genoa  and  Leghorn, 
and  intelligence  that  the  French  Armv  had  baked 

o  ,/ 

a  month's  bread,  the  Admiral  was  of  opinion, 
as  he  informed  Mr.  Frere,  whilst  off  the  Hieres 
Islands,  March  8,  that  an  Expedition  must  be 
intended. 

To  Sir  J.  Duckworth,  March  \$th.— "  There 
is  not  a  man  in  the  world,  that  rejoices  more 
at  the  happy  conclusion  you  have  given  to 
the  French  Expedition  to  St.  Domingo,  than 
myself,  and  for  all  your  well-earned  successes: 
your  perseverance  deserves  to  be  amply  re- 
warded. I  hope  to  hold  out,  to  beat  your  friend 
Admiral  Latouche  Treville,  who  took  the  com- 
mand at  Toulon  the  moment  of  his  arrival  there, 
fie  was  sent  «for  on  purpose,  as  he  beat  me  at 
Boulogne,  to  beat  me  again  ;  but  he  seems  very 


634 

loth  to  try."-— To  Sir  R.  Bickerton,  April  7.  "  As 
the  Enemy's  Fleet  has  been  out,1  and  may  still 
be  at  sea,  and  as  I  should  be  very  sorry  to  baulk 
their  inclinations  of  a  Battle  by  your  superiority 
of  numbers :  You  will  therefore,  whenever  .1 
make  the  signal,  haul  from  us  to  the  southward, 
furl  your  topgallant  sails  so  as  ,not  to  be  disco- 
vered from  the  shore,  and  just  keep  sight  of  us 
from  the  mast-head;  and  make  the  signal  for 
your  division  (except  Excellent,  who  is  going 
towards  Toulon)  and  do  you  call  in  Belleisle, 
unless  I  should  call  her  by  signal  to  me." 

The  preparations  which  he  had  made  to  insure 
success,  in  case  of  an  action  taking  place,  mark 
the  great  abilities  of  this  extraordinary  Man. 
With  him  every  thing  \vas  always  ready,  each 
difficulty  forestalled,  and  throughout  his  Fleet 
every  Officer  possessed  clear  ideas  of  the  mode  of 
attack  which  his  Admiral  wished  to  adopt,  should 
circumstances  admit  of  it.  A  considerable  lati- 
tude was  also  uniformly  given  to  the  experience 
and  observation  of  such  Officers,  as  might  be 
placed  in  situations  that  would  render  a  change 
in  any  preconcerted  plan  advisable.  On  the  28th 
of  April,  Lord  Nelson  had  issued  the  following 
Instructions,  which  are  copied  from  the  order 
book  of  the  Hon.  Captain  C.  Boyle  then  of  the 

'  The  French  Fleet  canle  out  of  Toulon  on  the  5th  of  April, 
and  went  in  again  the  next  morning.  Lord  Nelson  when  inform- 
ing his  Excellency  Mr.  Frere  of  this,  added,  "  If  they  goon  play- 
ing out  and  in,  we  shall  some  day  get  at  them." 


635 

Seahorse.  "  As  it  is  my  intention  to  attack  the 
French  Fleet,  irrany  place  where  there  is  a  rea- 
sonahle  prospect  of  getting  fairly  alongside  of 
them,  and  as  I  think  that  in  Hieres  Bay,  Gour- 
jean'Bay,  Port  Especia,  Leghorn  Roads,  Ajaccio, 
and  many  other  places,  opportunities  may  offer 
of  attacking  them;  I  therefore  recommend,  that 
every  Captain  should  make  himself,  by  inquiries, 
as  fully  acquainted  with  the  above  places  as  is 
possible ...  In  going  in  to  attack  an  Enemy's  Fleet, 
it  is  recommended  to  have  the  launch  out  and 
hawsers  and  stream  anchors  in  her,  and  with  any 
other  boats,  to  lie  out  of  gun  shot,  ready  to  cut 
as  circumstances  may  require.  Ships  in  bringing 
up,  will  anchor  as  their  Captains  may  think  best 
from  circumstances  of  winds,  weather,  and  the 
position  of  the  Enemy  :  But  I  strongly  recom- 
mend having  the  four  large  anchors  clear  for 
letting  go,  because  I  know  from  experience  the 
great  difficulty  with  crippled  masts  and  yards,  of 
getting* an  anchor  over  the  side  ;  and  it  is  pro- 
bable that  it  may  be  necessary  to  remove  the 
ship  after  an  Action,  and  to  leave  some  of  her 
anchors  behind.  The  sbips  will  anchor  in  such 
a  manner,  as  to  give  each  other  mutual  support 
for  the  destruction  of  the  Enemy." 

(1804.)  On  the  24th  of  May,  'Monsieur  La- 
touche  Treviile  again  stood  out  of  Toulon  with  a 
few  ships,  and  nearly  brought  to  action  the  Ca- 
nopus,  Donegal,  and  Amazon,  which  had  been 
detached  to  reconnoitre.  The  main  body  of  our 


636 

Fleet  had  remained  far  out  of  sight  of  land,  and 
the  weather  being  fair,   Rear  Admiral  Campbell 
in  the  Canopus  had   been  tempted  to  stand  in 
close  to  the  Port.     On  the  near  approach  of  our 
ships  it  fell  almost  calm ;  when  the  French  gun 
boats  stood  towards  them  and  began  firing,  which 
was  returned.     A  moderate  breeze  springing  up, 
five  of  the  Enemy's  line  of  battle  ships,  and  three 
heavy  frigates,  endeavoured  to  cut  off  our  ships. 
Admiral  Campbell  well  knowing  of  what  import- 
ance it  was  that  his  squadron  should  not  be  crip- 
pled by  so  superior  a  force,   strove  only  to   lead 
the  Enemy  towards  our  Fleet ;  but  they  having 
chased  about  five  leagues  from  Toulon,  during 
which  a  partial  firing  was  kept  up  from  our  ships, 
and  particularly  from   Sir  R.   Strachan   in  the 
Donegal,    who    with    difficulty   refrained   from 
close  action,    the  Enemy  was  recalled   at  three 
quarters  past  three  P.M. 

It  was  so  extraordinary  and   rare   a  circum- 
stance,  for  the  French  Admiral  to  appear  even 
without  the  port,    in   which  he  had    been  long 
blockaded   by  an  inferior  force,   that  Latouche 
Treville  could  not  resist  from  declaring,   he  had 
chased  the  whole  British  Fleet,  which  had  fled  before 
him.      It  was   some  months  until   Lord   Nelson 
heard  of  this  letter,   which  was  almost  too  much 
for  his  antigallican  spirit  and  love  of  truth  to 
endure;    and    being   already    indignant   at    the 
falsehoods  which  Latouche  Treville   had  circu- 
lated at  Boulogne,   his  Lordship  thus   expressed 


his  feelings,  in  a  letter  to  Mr.  Bulkeley.  "  You 
will  have  read  of  my  running  away  from  Mons. 
Latouche;  but  as  I  have  written  to  the  Admiralty, 
if  my  Character  is  not  established  by  this  time 
for  not  being  apt  to  run  away,  it  is  not  worth 
my  while  to  put  the  World"  right.  I  never  was 
more  surprised  than  to  see  the  fellow's  letter; 
but  the  next  French  Paper  makes  a  sort  of  apo- 
logy." And  in  writing  to  his  brother  William 
he  said,  "  You  will  have  seen,  my  dear  Brother, 
Latouche's  letter;  how  he  chased  me,  and  how  I 
ran.  I  keep  it ;  and  if  I  take  him,  by  God  he  shall 
eat  it" 

(1804.)  On  the  change  of  Ministers  which 
took  place  during  this  year,  in  the  month  of  May, 
Lord  'Melville  succeeded  Earl  St.  Vincent  as 
First  Lord  of  the  Admiralty.  On  hearing  of  this 
event,  Lord  Nelson  sent  the  following  letter, 
dated  June  18,  to  Sir  John  Acton;  who,  at  the 
desire  of  Buonaparte,  had  been  obliged  to  resign 
his  situation:  "The  great  change  of  Ministry 
cannot,  unless  it  gives  us  Peace,  which  I  think 
by  no  means  improbable,  make  any  alterations 
respecting  Russia  and  the  assistance  which  our 
Country  is  in  duty  and  honour  bound  to  give 
Naples.  Mons.  Latouche  came  out  on  the  14th. 
I  was  off  the  Hieres  with  five  ships;  he  had  eight 
of  the  line  and  six  frigates.  In  the  evening  he 

n  Lord  Nelson  felt  it  incumbent  on  him  for  the  satisfaction  of 
ihc  Admiralty  to  send  home  a  copy  of  the  Victory's  Log. 


638 

stood  under  Scpet  again,  and  I  believe  I  may 
call  it,  we  chased  him  into  Toulon  the  morning  of 
the  15M.  I  am  satisfied  he  meant  nothing  be- 
yond a  gasconade ;  but  I  am  confident  when  he 
is  ordered  for  any  service,  that  he  will  risk  falling 
in  with  us  and  the  event  of  a  Battle,  to  try  and 
accomplish  his  Orders." 

(1804.)  The  anxiety  with  which  he  at  that 
time  watched  his  gasconading  Enemy  in  Toulon, 
was  much  increased  by  the  tempestuous  weather 
which -our  crazy  ships  had  to  encounter.  Al- 
though the  spirit  of  Nelson  pervaded  the  whole 
squadron  and  surmounted  every  difficulty,  yet 
the  fatigue  of  mind  which  he  thus  constantly 
endured  with  a  weak  and  sickly  frame,  is  hardly 
to  be  credited.  On  the  l?th  of  July,  his  agita- 
tion at  the  thoughts  of  having  suffered  some  of 
the  French  -ships  to  escape,  is  thus  described  in 
a  hurried  note  which  he  addressed  to  Admiral 
Campbell:  "The  French  ships  have  either  altered 
their  anchorage,  or  some  of  them  have  got  to  sea 
in  the  late  gales;  the  idea  has  given  me  half  a 
fever." — In  the  afternoon  Captain  Moubray  made 
the  signal  of  the  Enemy  being  all  in  harbour: 
this,  however,  did  not  quite  allay  the  Admiral's 
agitation,  as  expressed  in  another  note,  which  he 
sent  to  Sir  JR.  Bickcrton:  "I  have  been  in  a 
little  alarm  at  the  idea  of  Mons.  Latouche  having 
given  me  the  slip  ;  and  it  is  not  quite  cleared  up. 
I  am  sending  Active  and  Thunder  off  Marseilles 
for  information;  for  I  am  sure  if  that  Admiral 


639 

were  to  cheat  me  out  of  my  hopes  of  meeting 
him,  it  would  kill  me  much  easier  than  one  of 
his  balls.  Since  we  sat  down  to  dinner,  Captain 
Moubray  has  made  the  signal,  but  I  am  very  far 
from  being  easy.  I  shall  place  Seahorse  and 
Amazon  close  in  shore,  in  order  to  examine  Tou- 
lon every  way  to  morrow." 

(1804)  On  the  81st  of  July,  Lord  Nelson,  in 
order  to  shelter  his  Fleet  from  the  prevailing 
gales  of  wind,  and  to  unload  some  Transports 
which  had  arrived,  made  the  signal  to  take  shel- 
ter in  the  Gulf  of  Palrna.  The  boisterous  weather 
continuing  the  whole  of  the  next  day,  they  kept 
the  anniversary  of  the  first  of  August  in  that  Bay, 
which*  his  Lordship  notices  in  writing  to  Sir  A. 
Ball  on  the  3d.  The  mind  of  the  Governor  of 
Malta  and  his  opinions  were  congenial  with  those 
of  Nelson,  and  a  similarity  of  talent  gradually 
cemented  a  friendship  between  them,  which  their 
first  acquaintance0  had  by  no  means  promised. 

0  Sir  Alexander  Ball  first  became  acquainted  with  Nelson  when  N 
he  visited  France  in  1/83,  and  resided  for  a  short  time  at  St. 
Orner's.  They  parted  in  some  degree  prejudiced  against  each 
other.  After  a  long  interval,  they  again  met  when  Captain  Ball 
was  attached  to  the  squadron  which  Earl  St.  Vincent,  in  1708, 
sent  up  the  Mediterranean  under  Sir  Horatio.  The  prejudice 
which  he  had  imbibed  at  St.  Omer's  still  remained,  and  on  his 
first  interview  with  Captain  Ball,  Nelson  observed,  ""  What  do 
you  expect  by  going  with  me,  do  you  wish  to  get  your  bones 
broken  ?" — "  1  did  not,  Sir,"  replied  Captain  Ball,  '•'  come  info  the 
Service  to  save  my  bones  :  1  know  you  are  going  on  a  feri/ous  service, 
and  1  am  therefore  happy  to  go  'with you." — During  the  subsequent 


640 

•*'  I  have  received,  my  dear  Ball,'*  said  his  Lord- 
ship, "your  sketch  of  the  views  of  the  French  in 
the  Mediterranean,  -  on  the  whole  outline  of 
which  I  perfectly  agree  with  you ;  and  on  the 
smaller  part  there  are  only  shades  of  difference. 
1  know  the  importance  of  Malta;  but,  my  friend,  I 
fancy  I  also  know  how  far  its  importance  extends : 
on  this  point  we  may  differ,  but  we  both  agree, 
that  it  never  must  be  even  risked  falling  into  the 
hands  of  France  .  . .  Look  at  the  position  of  Sar- 
dinia, I  have  touched  I  recollect  before  upon  that 
subject,  and  you  should  be  Viceroy.  I  have 
warned  the  folks  at  home,  but  I  fear  in  vain  :  Al- 
giers will  be  French  in  one  year  after  peace — 
you  see  it,  and  a  man  may  run  and  read,  that  is 
the  plan  of  Buonaparte.  Respecting  Egypt  I 
agree  with  you  most  perfectly.  And  now,  my 
dear  Ball,  I  will  not  plague  you  with  my  non- 
sensical ideas  any  more ;  and  have  only  to  hope 
Mons.  Latouche,  who  says  in  his  letter  to  Paris 
that  I  ran  away  from  him,  will  give  me  an  op- 
portunity of  settling  my  account  before  I  go 
home,  which  cannot  be  much  longer  deferred, 
or  I  shall  never  go." 

(1804.)  His  wish  to  return  home  for  a  short 
repose  from  such  incessant  fatigue,  was  at  times 
increased  by  a  fear  of  not  having  sufficient  in- 

tempest  in  the  Gulf  of  Lyons,  ihe  talents  and  greatness  of  mind 
of  Captain  Ball  won  the  heart  of  Sir  Horatio ;  and  from  that  hour 
the  utmost  intimacy  and  mutual  regard  existed,  as  has  been  seen, 
between  these  Officers. 


641 

terest,  as  he  modestly  thought,  to  continue  in 
the  command  of  a  Fleet,  whose  conduct  he  so 
uniformly  approved  :  "  You  will,  I  am  sure,"  said 
he  in  writing  to  Sir  E.  Nepcan,  Aug.  4,  "  see  with 
regret,  that  my  shattered  carcase  requires  rest. 
The  leaving  this  Fleet  where  every  one  wishes  to 
please  me,  and  where  I  am  as  happy  as  it  is  pos- 
sihle  fora  man  to  be  in  a  command,  must  make 
me  feel :  hut  I  owe  it  to  my  King  and  Country, 
and  to  myself,  not  to  let  the  Service  suffer  upon 
my  account.  I  have  not  Interest,  nor  can  I  ex- 
pect to  be  permitted  to  return  in  the  spring  to 
this  command.  Yet  is  this  place,  perhaps,  more 
fitted  for  me  than  any  other,  but  I  submit.  All 
my  wishes  no\v  rest  that  I  may  meet  Mons.  La- 
touche  before  October  is  over." — In  a  letter  about 
the  same  time  to  Cc.unt  Mocenigo  at  Corfu,  when 
speaking  of  the  possibility  that  Latouche  might 
after  all  elude  his  vigilance,  Nelson  added  what 
it  behoves  all  naval  men  to  remember — In  Sea 
Affairs^  nothing  is  impossible  and  nothing  impro- 
bable. 

During  the  preceding  month  of  July,  the  boats 
of  the  Narcissus,  Captain  Ross  Donnelly,  of  the 
Seahorse,  Hon.  C.  Boyle,  and  of  the  Maidstone, 
Hon.  George  Elliot,  had  on  the  9th  made  a  most 
gallant  attack  on  about  twelve  of  the  Enemy's 
vessels  at  la  Vandour  in  the  Bay  of  Hieres.  These 
boats  had  been  sent  in  under  the  orders  of  Mr. 
John  Thompson,  first  Lieutenant  of  the  Narcis- 
sus; who  with  his  gallant  companions,  as  is  nar- 

T 


642 

rated  iti  Capt.  Donnelly's  official  letter,  boarded 
and  destroyed  almost  the  whole  under  a  prodi- 
gious fire  of  great  guns  and  musketry,  as  well 
from  the  enemy's  vessels,  as  from  a  battery  and 
the  houses  of  the  town,  close  to  which  they  had 
been  hauled  in  and  secured.  The  attack  com- 
menced at  midnight.  The  Enemy  were  fully 
prepared,  and  had  taken  every  precaution  to  se- 
cure their  vessels,  by  mooring  them  head  and 
stern.  Lord  Nelson  in  sending  an  account  of 
this  daring  enterprise  to  the  Admiralty,  August 
12,  said,  "  The  determined  bravery  of  Lieute- 
nants Thompson,  Parker,  Lumley  and  Moore,  and 
of  the  petty  officers,  seamen,  and  marines  em- 
ployed under  them  could  not  be  exceeded.  1  am 
concerned  to  observe,  that  Lieutenant  Lumley 
has  been  obliged  to  suffer  amputation  at  the  shoul- 
der joint;  but  I  have  much  pleasure  in  saying, 
that  this  fine  young  man  is  fast  recovering:  his 
sufferings,  I  am  sure,  will  meet  their  Lordships' 
consideration." 

(1804.J  At  the  beginning  of  the  month  of  Au- 
gust, having  heard  that  there  was  an  excellent 
fresh  water"  river  in  a  bay  in  the  island  of  Piilla, 

c  In  his  Diary,  during  the  month  of  September,  mention  is 
made  of  "  A  very  fine  Watering  Place  found  by  Captain  Hillyer, 
about  five  miles  to  the  westward  of  Porto  Torres,  with  the  Springs 
about  two  hundred  yards  from  the  beach,  where  forty  casks  may 
be  filled  at  the  same  time."  And,  in  writing  afterwards  to  Mr.' 
Consul  Magnon,  he  said,  "  I  can  as-ure  you,  tint  we  hnvs  found 
Pulla  the  :nost  healthy  place  the  Fleet  has  ever  been  at.  So  far  from 
a  man  being  ill  from  the  thousands  who  wen  I.  -.-ii  shore,  '):•  y  have 


643 

Lord  Nelson  proceeded  thither  and  found  the 
report  correct.      He  describes  the   Bay   in  his 
Diary,  as  being  open  to  the  E.  and   S.  E.   winds, 
but  that  the  bottom  was  good.     On  the  16th  of 
the  same  month,   the  Active,    Phoebe,    Seahorse, 
and  Niger,    joined  from  reconnoitring   Toulon, 
and    reported   that  sixteen   or  seventeen  large 
ships,  supposed  of  the  line,  had  been  out ;   and 
on  the  same  day  the  Fisgard  arrived  from  Eng- 
land.   The  violent  gales  which  came  on  and  con- 
tinued for  some  days,  obliged  the  Admiral  to  take 
shelter  under  Cape  St.  Sebastian.     In  writing  on 
the  24th  of  August  to  Rear  Admiral  Sutton,   he 
said,    "  The  Spencer  joined  the  19th,  from  Ply- 
mouth.  I  was  very  glad  to  see  so  fine  a  ship,  and 
so  good  a  man  as  Captain  Stopford.    I  have  long, 
my  dear  friend,    made  up  my  mind   never  to  be 
tired;  the  longer  the  happy  day  is  deferred,  still 
every  day  brings  it  nearer,   and  we  all  feel  that 
the  day  will  arrive,    the  sooner  the   better  cer- 
tainly,  or  I  shall  not  be  in  at  the  death  ;    for  I 
have  every  reason  to  think  if  this  Fleet  gets  fairly 
at  Mons.  Latouche,   that  his  letter,   with  all  his 
ingenuity,   must  be  different  from  his  last." 

O  v    7 

(1804.)  Whilst  Lord  Nelson  was  thus  anxi- 
ously watching  Toulon,  and  waiting  for  his  vaunt- 
ing Enemy  to  give  the  British  Fleet  an  opportu- 
nity of  avenging  that  aspersioivwhich  the  French 

all  derived  the  greatest  benefit  from  the  salubrity  of  the  air 
brought  down  by  that  fine  river." 

2  T  2 


644 

Commander  in  Chief  had  endeavoured  to  cast 
ou  its  renown,  Latouche  had  been  suddenly  taken 
ill,  and  died.  This  was  a  complete  disappoint- 
ment to  the  Admiral,  whose  whole  mind  had  been 
intent  on  annihilating  the  French  force  under 
Latouche,  and  proving  to  all  Europe  how  little 
the  boasts  of  that  Officer  would  have  availed  him 
in  the  day  of  Battle.  If  he  had  but  come  out  and 
fought  us ,  exclaimed  Nelson,  it  would  at  least  have 
added  ten  years  to  my  life. 

(1804.)  The  continual  attention  which  he  had 
now,  for  so  many  months,  paid  to  the  Toulon  Squa- 
dron, and  the  variety  of  conjectures  he  had  con- 
stantly formed  respecting  their  future  destination, 
had  already  presented  the  West  Indies  as  an  ob- 
ject well  worthy  of  the  enterprise  of  Buonaparte  ; 
and  this  more  particularly  appears  from  his  fol- 
lowing short  note  to  Sir  R.  Bickerton,  dated  Vic- 
tory, Sept.  6. — "  I  sha41  stand  inshore  with  the 
starboard  Division,  and  I  therefore  desire  you  to 
keep  your  presentposition,  Ishall  come  back  in  the 
evening,  merely  wishing  to  take  a  look  who  are 
out ;  for  I  think  they  will  now  push  to  the  West- 
ward, and  if  they  should  get  out  of  the  Straits, 
I  am  of  opinion  they  will  try  for  the  West  Indies, 
and  then,  with  7000  troops,  farewell  our  Islands." 
— Again  in  a  letter  to  Sir  A.  Ball,  on  the  same 
day,  "  I  should  imagine,  now  the  Russians  are 
getting  so  large  a  naval  force  into  the  Mediterra- 
nean, that  the  Toulon  fleet  would  not  think  of 
going  to  the  Eastward :  I  should  rather  believe 


643 

the  West  Indies  more  likely  for  them  to  succeed 
in.  Suppose  this  i'leet  escapes  and  gets  out  of 
the  Straits  ;  I  am  of  opinion  I  should  bend  my 
course  to  the  Westward ;  for  if  they  carry  7000 
men,  with  what  they  have  at  Martinique  and 
Guadaloupe,  St.  Lucia,  Grenada,  St.  Vincent,  An- 
tigua, and  St.  Kitts  would  fall;  and  in  that  case 
England  would  be  so  clamourous  for  Peace,  that 
we  should  humble  ourselves.  What  do  yo\i 
think?  tell  me:  I  have  weighed  Ireland  against 
the  West  Indies,  with  me,  the  latter  throws  the 
beam  up  to  the  ceiling  ;  but  I  may  be  wrong,  it 
is  at  best  but  a  guess,  and  the  World  attaches 
wisdom  to  him  that  guesses  right.  I  am  very 
far  from  well ;  at  the  same  time  if  I  were  to  get 
better,  nothing  could  please  me  so  much  as  re- 
turning to  this  command  ;  but  I  have  no  interest 
and  another  will  come,  and  I  think  very  proba- 
bly Orde,  or  Curtis.  I  can  solemnly  assure  you, 
that  I  am  at  present  a  poorer  man  than  the  day 
I  was  ordered  to  the  Mediterranean  command, 
by  upwards  of  I  GOO/:  but  money  I  despise,  ex- 
cept as  it  is  useful,  and  I  expect  my  Prize  mo- 
ney is  embarked  in  the  Toulon  Fleet.  God 
bless  you,  my  dear  Ball,  and  ever  be  assured 
that  I  am  your  most  faithful  Friend,  NELSON 
y\XD  BRONTE." — In  a  letter  on  the  same  day,  Sep- 
tember 6',  to  General  Vilettes,  after  repeating 
these  ideas  respecting  the  object  of  the  French 
Fleet,  he  added,  "  Whatever  may  be  their  desti- 
nation I.  shall  certainly  follow,  be  it  even  to  the 


646 

East  Indies:  such  a  Pursuit  would  do  more,  per- 
haps, towards  restoring  me  to  health,  than  all 
the  doctors  together.  But  I  fear  this  is  re- 
served for  some  happier  man.  Not  that  I  can 
complain,  I  have  hud  a  good  race  of  Glory,  hut 
we  are  never  satisfied,  although  I  hope  I  am 
duly  thankful  for  the  past;  yet  one  cannot  help, 
being  at  Sea,  longing  for  a  little  more.  Latouche 
has  given  me  the  slip,  he  died  of  the  Cholic,  per- 
haps Buonaparte's,  for  they  say  he  was  a  rank 
Republican.  Dumanoir  is  the  Rear  Admiral  at 
present  in  Toulon.  God  Mess  you,  my  dear  Ge- 
neral, and  believe  me  ever  your  much  obliged 
Friend." 

His  following  letter,  which  was  addressed 
through  Mr.  Marsdcn  to  the  Board,  will  shew, 
that  notwithstanding  the  various  other  objects 
which  so  constantly  employed  Nelson's  mind, 
he  was  equally  intent  on  devising  the  most  e£- 
fectual  modes  for  preserving  the  health  of  his 
Fleet. — "  ...  I  am  sure  their  Lordships  will  see 
the  justness  of  the  case  as  plain  as  I  do.  Each, 
man  was  formerly  allowed  a  pint  of  outmeal  on 
certain  days;  but  as  it  was  found  that  gent-rally 
a  man  could  not  get  a  pint  of  dry  oatmeal  down 
his  throat,  and,  I  suppose,  thinking  it  no  longer 
necessary  to  present  this  saving  to  the  Purser,  half 
a  pint  of  oatmeal  was  issued  instead  of  a  pint, 
and  in  lieu  of  the  other  half  pint,  a  proportion 
of  molasses:  It  has  sometimes  occurred  in  the 
Channel  fleet,  that  no  molasses  was  to  be  pro- 


647 

cured,  nor  was  there  any  allowance  made  for 
such  temporary  omissions.  In  the  West  Indies 
Cocoa  and  Sugar  are  allowed,  in  the  Channel,  I 
hear,  Tea  and  Sugar.  In  the  Mediterranean  we 
have  no  Molasses  nor  any  suhstitute;  nor  is  our 
want  of  Molasses  temporary  but  lasting.  I  beg, 
therefore,  with  all  due  respect  to  call  their 
Lordships'  attention  to  this  Circumstance;  and 
to  propose,  that  when  Molasses  cannot  be  ob- 
tained, a  proportion  of  Sugar  should  bk  allowed 
to  be  mixed  M'ith  the  Oatmeal,  in  lieu  of  Mo- 
lasses: and  that  if  Sugar  cannot  be  obtained, 
the  men  having  no  substitute,  in  lieu,  should  be 
paid  the  saving  as  in  all  other  species  of  pro- 
visions. It  is  not  necessary  to  enter  more  at 
large  upon  this  subject,  their  Lordships'  wisdom 
will  direct  their  proceedings." 

( 1 804. )  In  oneof  four  letters  which  he  addressed 
on  the  10th  of  October  to  Lord  Melville,  the  Ad- 
miral expressed  himself  as  being  satisfied  with 
the  arrangements  that  had  been  made  by  the 
board  of  Admiralty,  as  to  line  of  Battle  ships, 
yet  lamented  the  manner  in  which  the  Service 
continued  to  be  cramped  for  want  of  frigates. 
A  deficiency  of  them  in  the  Mediterranean  al- 
lowed the  enemy's  privateers  to  increase,  and 
considerable  depredations  to  be  made  on  our 
valuable  trade  in  that  sea:  "  But,"  added  he, 
"  I  am  sure,  my  Lord,  from  your  wise  beginning, 
that  a  full  crop  of  credit,  and  I  believe  of  glory, 
will  accrue  to  the  Board  of  Admiralty, 


648 

Notwithstanding  the  weak  state  of  his  health 
from  having  been  so  long  at  sea,    Lord  Nelson 
would    never  leave d  his  ship:   On  the   J7th  of 
October' he  carried  his  Fleet  to  the   Madelena 
Islands  for  wood,   water,  and  other  necessaries; 
and  although  the  Royal  Family  of  Sardinia  were 
at  all  times   ready   to   shew  every    attention  to 
their  gallant  preserver,    he    refused    all    indul- 
gence,    and   persisted  in    his    determination    of 
remaining  on  board.     Before  he  left  Madelena, 
feeling,  as  he  did   at  th-it  time,   that  he  might 
not  be  allowed  to  return  from  England  where  he 
expected  shortly  to  go,   he  presented  a  piece  of 
Church  Plate   to  the  Superior  as  a  small  token 
of  esteem  for  the  inhabitants,  and  as  a  remem- 
brance of  the  hospitable   treatment    which   the 
Fleet   under  his   Lordship's  Command  had  ever 
received  from   them.      On  the   26th  of  October 
the  Fleet  got  under  weigh  at  Madelena,  consist- 
ing of  the  Victory,   Canopus,    Superb,   Spencer, 
Tigre,    Royal  Sovereign,    Leviathan,  Excellent, 
Belleisle,  and  Conqueror;   and,    as  he  added  in 
his  Diary,  with  not  a  man  nick  in  the  Fleet.     On 
the    30th   of  October    he   looked   into   Toulon, 
where  Vice  Admiral  Villeneuve  had  hoisted  his 
flag,     and    sent    the    following    account   of  the 
Enemy' to  Lord   Melville.      "The  weather  was 

d  From  the  information  of  H.  R,  H.  the  Duke  of  Clarence, 
Lonl  Nelson  never  went  out  of  the  Victory  but  thre  times,  and 
then  on  the  King's  service,  from  his  leaving  England  in  J803, 
to  his  return  in  August  1805 ;  and  none  of  these  absences  from 
his  ship  exceeded  an  hour. 


very  thick  when  I  looked  into  Toulon;  but  I  be- 
lieve a  Vice  Admiral  has  hoisted  his  flag,  his  name 
I  have  not  yet  heard.  They  now  amuse  them- 
selves with  night  signals,  and  by  the  quantity  of 
rockets  and  blue  lights  they  shew  with  every 
signal,  they  plainly  mark  their  position.  These 
gentlemen  must  soon  be  so  perfect  in  theory, 
that  they  will  come  to  sea  to  put  their  know- 
ledge into  practice.  Could  I  see  that  day  it 
would  make  me  happy." 

(1804.)  During  this  month,  'October,  Lord 
Nelson  had  been  puzzled,  and  before  his  own 
despatches  arrived  rather  irritated,  respecting 
the  measures  that  had  been  taken  to  counteract 
the  designs  of  the  Spaniards  in  favour  of  the 
French.  On  the  22d  of  Sept.  the  John  Bull 
cutter  had  sailed  from  Plymouth  with  secret  dis- 
patches for  Lord  Nelson,  and  for  Admiral  Corn- 
wallis,  respecting  the  Spaniards,  whose  conduct 
had  begun  to  be  rather  suspicious.  Admiral 
Cornwallis  was  instructed  to  detach  two  frigates, 
to  proceed  with  all  despatch  off  Cadiz  and  the 
entrance  of  the  Straits,  and  to  unite  their  en- 
deavours, with  any  of  his  Majesty's  ships  they 
might  find  there,  to  intercept  and  detain  some 
Spanish  frigates  expected  with  treasure  from 
South  America.  With  a  liberality  inherent  in 
his  character,  and  which  corresponded  with  the 
integrity e  of  his  'Government,  Nelson  anxiously 

e  The  despatches  for  Lord  Nrlson  were  dated  Sept.  ip,  and  re- 
ceived Dec.  25.     He  was  therein  directed,  to   take  only  such 


650 
/ 

wished,  if  possible,  to  avoid  a  War  with  Spain: 
I still  fervently  hope,  said  he,  in  writing  to  Mr. 
Consul  Gibert,  that  no  War  between  the  two  Coun- 
tries may  take  place,  and  that  Spain  will  not  any 
longer  be  the  tool  of  Buonaparte :  and  before  he 
had  received  his  despatches,  he  had  written  as 
follows  to  Captain  Gore,  "Unless  you  receive 
orders  from  the  Admiralty,  it  is  my  most  positive 
directions,  that  neither  you  nor  any  ship  under 
your  command,  do  molest  or  interrupt  in  any 
manner  the  lawful  Commerce  of  Spain,  with 
whom  we  are  at  perfect  peace  and  amity/' 

measures  of  Precaution  as  might  be  necessary  for  opposing  or 
counteracting  any  hostile  attempts  of  the  Spaniards  against  the 
British  dominions  or  their  trade.  He  was,  however,  not  to  suffer 
any  act  of  hostility  or  aggression  (with  the  exception  of  detaining 
Spanish  ships  with  treasure  on  board)  to  be  committed  by  his 
Fleet  until  he  received  further  orders,  or  had  obtained  positive 
information  from  unquestionable  authority,  of  Hostilities  having 
been  committed  by  the  Spaniards  against  his  Majesty's  interest. 
Additional  directions,  dated  Sept.  25,  were  also  sent  for  the  Cap- 
tains and  Commanders  of  the  Mediterranean  Fleet,  to  keep  a  vi- 
gilant look  out,  and  to  detain  Spanish  ships  or  vessels  laden  with 
military  stores.  And  on  the  25th  of  November,  lest  any  mis- 
apprehension might  still  have  been  entertained,  further  instruc- 
tions were  sent  out,  Not  to  detain  in  the  first  instance  any  ship 
belonging  to  his  Catholic  Majesty,  sailing  from  a  port  of  Spain, 
but  to  require  the  Commander  to  return  directly  to  the  port 
•whence  he  came;  and  only  in  the  event  of  his  refufing  to  com- 
ply with  such  requisition,  was  the  Admiral  to  d<  tain  and  send  her 
to  Gibraltar,  or  to  England.  He  was  also  further  directed  not  to 
detain  any  Spanish  homeward  bound  ship  of  war,  unless  she 
should  have  treasure  on  board,  nor  merchant  ships  of  that  nation 
however  l.iden,  on  any  account  whatever. 


651 

It  was  not  till  the  12th  of  November  that  Lord 
Nelson  first  heard  of  the  arrival  of  the  Spanish 
frigates,  laden  with  money,  at  §pithead;f  and  ou 
the  17th,  in  writing  to  the  Hon.  Captain  Capel, 
"  the  question  of  Peace  or  War  with  Spain  is 
still,  said  he,  "undecided,  at  least  on  the  27th 
of  October,  when  my  letters  are  dated  from 
Madrid." 

(1S04.)  During  the  night  of  the  Hth  of  No- 
vember, intelligence  arrived  in  the  Mediterra- 
nean, that  the  Spaniards  had  declared  War, 
which  was  officially  announced  by  them  on  the 
12th  of  the  ensuing  month.  On  the  14th  of 
December,  the  Admiralty  sent  out  word,  that 
Mr.  Frere  had  left  Madrid,  and  that  an  embargo 
had  been  laid  on  all  British  ships  and  vessels  in 
the  ports  of  Spain;  but  owing  to  his  subsequent 
proceedings,  the  Admiral  did  not  receive  this  until 
the  14th  of  March,  1805.  By  this  despatch  he  Mas 
directed,  "  In  case  of  the  detention  of  any  Spa- 
nish ships  or  vessels,  in  consequence' of  these  in- 
structions, to  give  the  most  positive  orders  to 

f  On  the  5th  of  October,  »ke  Indefatigable,  Graham  Moore; 
Medusa,  J.  Gore;  Amphion,  Sutton ;  and  Lively,  G.  E.  Ha- 
mond,  when  endeavouring  to  detain  four  Spanish  frigates,  la 
Medce,  la  Clara,  la  Faina,  and  la  Mercedes,  laden  with  treasure, 
an  Action  became  inevitable  notwithstanding  the  earnest  wish  of 
Captain  Moore  to  execute  his  orders  without  bloodshed.  The 
Mercedes  soon  blew  up  with  800,000  tlolL-.rs  on  board ;  the 
other  three  were  taken,  with  their  rich  cargoes,  consisting  of  32 
chests  of  platina,  l,S5p2l6  dollars  in  silver,  1,119,658  gold, 
reduced  into  dollars,  and  150,011  ingots  of  gold  reduced  into 
dollars. 


-652 

the  Officers  to  whom  the  charge  of  such  ships 
or  vessels  might  be  intrusted,  to  take  all  possible 
care  that  no  embezzlement  of  any  kind  whatever 
took  place  on  board  them."  An  order  which 
was  entirely  congenial  with  his  upright  and  dis- 
interested character ;  no  man  deprecated  more 
than  Nelson  the  smallest  approaches  to  a  con- 
trary behaviour:  Thank  God !  exclaimed  he  on  a 
similar  occasion,  I  shall  get  no  money  :  the  World, 
I  know,  thinks  that  to  be  our  God,  and  now  it 
will  be  undeceived,  as  far  as  relates  to  us. 

Anno  (1805.)  XVI.  On  the  18th  of  Janu- 
^Etat.  40.  ary  tiie  French  Fleet  put  to  sea  from 
Toulon,  Lord  Nelson  being  then  at  Madelena, 
hut  tvere  soon  compelled  to  return,  after  having 
been  dispersed  in  a  Gale  of  Wind.  His  Lord- 
ship had  suffered  great  anxiety  lest  they  should 
escape  him,  but  at  the  close  of  the  month  of 
March  had  given  up  all  idea  of  their  again  leav- 
ing Toulon:  when  suddenly  on  the  4th  of  April, 
the  Phoebe,  Hon.  T.  B.  Capel,  was  discovered  in 
the  Offing  with  the  signal  flying,  That  the  French 
Admiral  was  at  Sea.  Cruisers  were  despatched  in 
all  directions,  and  Lord  Nelson  immediately 
proceeded  with  the  Fleet,  which  he  stationed  in 
the  narrow  part  of  the  Mediterranean  between 
Sardinia  and  the  coast  of  Africa  until  he  was 
satisfied  that  the  object  of  the  Enemy  was  not  to 
pass  between  Sardinia,  and  the  Coast  of  Barbary. 
It  was  the  l6th  of  April  before  any  tidings  could 
be  obtained  of  the  Enemy  ;  when  it  appeared 


653 

w 

from  a  Neutral  spoken  by  the  Leviathan,  that 
the  French  had  been  seen  on  the  7th  off  Cape 
de  Gatte,  and  it  was  soon  afterwards  ascertained 
that  they  had  passed  the  Straits  of  Gibraltar  on 
the  8th.  Notwithstanding  every  exertion  Lord 
Nelson  did  not  get  in  sight  of  Gibraltar  before 
the  30th  of  April,  about  which  time  he  first  heard 
of  Villeneuve  having  been  reinforced  by  some 
ships,  under  Gravina,  from  Cadiz;  and  as  there 
was  no  'possibility  of  passing  the  Straits  at  that 
time,  and  his  Ships  would  be  equally  ready  to 
embrace  the  least  favourable  spirt  of  wind  when 
at  anchor  on  the  Barbary  Shore,  as  by  remaining 
under  sail,  he  profited  of  tjie  opportunity  of 
watering  in  Mazari  Bay,  and  ordered  the  Superb 
to  Tetuan  to  procure  Cattle,  Fruit  and  Vege* 
tables  for  the  Squadron. 

(1805.)  On  the  5th  of  May  a  breeze  at 
length  sprung  up  from  the  Eastward.  The  sig- 
nal was  immediately  made  to  weigh;  the  Su- 
perb was  recalled  from  Tetuan,  leaving  the  Cattle 
and  other  refreshments  which  had  just  been 
brought  down  on  the  beach,  and  all  the  Squa- 
dron was  seen  standing  to  the  Westward  ;  when 
the  wind  suddenly  failed,  and  on  the  7th  Lord 
Nelson  anchored  in  Rosia  Bay,  Gibraltar.  But 
before  all  the  Fleet  had  done  the  same,  there 
was  every  appearance  of  a  Levanter  coming  on  : 
the  ships  were  unmoored,  the  provisioned  trans- 
ports taken  in  tow,  and  at  six  o'clock  the  whole 


654 

was    again    under   sail,    steering    through    the 
Straits. 

(1805.)  Lord  Nelson's  whole  attention  was 
now  directed  to  the  West  Indies.  He  made  Ma- 
deria  on  the  15th  of  May;  and  as  the  Squadron 
approached  Barbadoes,  despatched  the  Amazon, 
Captain  Parker,  on  the  29th  to  Admiral  Coch- 
rane,  in  order  to  prepare  whatever  naval  force 
there  might  be  in  Carlisle  Bay,  to  join  his  Lord- 
ship on  his  approach.  On  the  ^d  of  June,  he 
received  intelligence  of  the  Enemy  being  in  the 
West  Indies  from  two  British  merchant  ships, 
and  on  the  4th  reached  Barbadoes. 

The  alarm  which  prevailed  for  the  safety  of 
Tobago  and  Trinidad  was  very  great.  Intelli- 
gence had  been  received  that  the  Enemy's  Fleet, 
consisting  of  eighteen  sail,  had  been  seen  on 
the  28th  of  May  from  St.  Lucia,  standing  to  the 
southward.  This  was  corroborated  by  other  ac- 
counts, and  no  doubt  of  its  authenticity  existed 
with  any  one  except  Lord  Nelson ;  -who,  on  'his 
opinion  being  overruled,  replied,  If  your  Intel' 
ligence  proves  folse>  you  lose  me  the  French  Fleet. 
But  this  intelligence,  supported  by  an  application 
from  General  Sir  W.  Myers,  Commander  in 
Chief,  to  convey  himself  and  2000  troops  to  the 
relief  of  Tobago  and  Trinidad,  could  not  be  re- 
sisted. The  Admiral  consequently  worked  his 
ships  up  to  Carlisle  Bay,  received  the  General 
and  troops  that  evening  on  board  the  squadron, 


and  on  the  morning  of  the  .5th  of  June  at  eight 
A.  M.  sailed  from  Barbadoes  with  twelve  ships  of 
the  line,  four  frigates,  three  sloops,  and  four 
smaller  vessels.  On  the  7th  they  entered  the 
Gulf  of  Paria  where  no  Enemy  was  to  be  seen, 
nor  had  any  been  there. 

The  disappointment  and  feelings  of  Lord  Nel- 
son at  this  time  may  easily  be  imagined.  He 
had  entered  the  Gulf  of  Paria,  and  found  the 
complete  fallacy  of  every  thing  that  had  been 
asserted  in  opposition  to  his  own  ideas;  which, 
though  deduced  from  apparent  conjecture, 
proved  alone  to  be  correct.  With  his  accus- 
tomed activity  and  firmness  of  mind  he  imme- 
diately exerted  his  great  abilities  to  remedy  the 
evil,  and  to  overcome  the  obstacles  that  pre- 
sented themselves.  Having  obtained  an  account 
on  the  8th  of  June,  that  the, Enemy  had  not 
moved  on  the  4th  from  Fort  Royal,  but  were 
expected  to  sail  that  night  for  the  attack  of 
Grenada,  he  on  the  9th  arrived  off  that  Island, 
and  having  on  his  passage  communicated  with 
Dominica,  on  the  llth  was  off  Montserrat,  and 
at  sun-set  of  the  12th  of  June  anchored  in  St. 
John's,  Antigua,  to  land  the  Troops;  when  lie 
sent  the  Curieux  to  England  with  his  despatches. 
Thus  in  the  short  space  of  Eight  Days,  had  this 
sreat  Admiral  secured  our  West  India  Colonies 

^j 

from  that  plunder  and  havoc,  with  which  they 
had  been  threatened  by  the  combined  Fleets  of 
France  and  Spain;  during  which  he  had  received 


656 

on  board  and  disembarked  2000  Troops,  had 
entered  the  Gulf  of  Paria,  and  surmounting  the 
various  obstacles  that  combined  to  retard  his 
progress,  had  shewn  his  protecting  power  to  every 
Island  in  the  chain  from  Trinidad  to  St.  Kitt's. 
(1805.)  On  the  13th  of  June  Lord  Nelson 
sailed  at  noon  in  pursuit  of  the  Enemy  with  his 
squadron  of  eleven  ships,  taking  with  him  the 
Spartiate,  Captain  Sir  F.  Laforey,  and  stood  to 
the  Northward  without  any  Intelligence  of  the 
Enemy.  No  circumstance  of  particular  moment 
occurred  during  the  Passage  back.  On  Wed- 
nesday, July  17,  the  Fleet  came  within  sight  of 
cape  St.  Vincent,  "Making,"  observes  the  Ad- 
miral in  his  Diary,  "  our  whole  run  from  Bar- 
buda, day  by  day,  34-59  miles:  Our  run  from 
Cape  St.  Vincent  to  Barbadoes  was  3227  miles, 
so  that  our  run  back  was  only  232  miles  more 
than  our  run  out — allowance  being  made  for  the 
difference  of  the  latitudes  and  longitudes  of  Bar- 
badoes and  Barbuda;  average  per  day  thirty- 
four  leagues  wanting  nine  miles." — On  the  18th 
of  July  being  in  want  of  provisions,  he  steered 
for  the  Straits  mouth,  and  on  the  19th  bore  up 
and  anchored  in  Gibraltar,  yet  still  without 
irainins:  any  information  of  the  Enemv.  On  the 

O  O  •'  *• 

£0th,  as  is  remarked  in  his  Diary,  Iivent  on  shore 

for  the  fir xt  time  since  June  16,  1805;    and  from 

having  my  foot  out   of  the   Victory,    t~co  years. 

lean  ting  fen  days. 

-On  the  very  next  day,  July  21,  they  were  em- 


657 

ployed  in  getting  ready  for  sea,  and  Lord  Nel- 
son sent  home  his  despatches  in  the  Thomas, 
Merchant  brig.  The  Squadron  unmoored  on  the 
22d.  At  eight  P.M.  they  anchored  in  Mazari 
Bay,  and  on  the  24th  at  noon  weighed  and  stood 
for  Ceuta.  Having  passed  the  Straits  and  com- 
municated with  Admiral  Collingwood,  the  Squa- 
dron under  Lord  Nelson  bore  away  to  the  west- 
ward, and  then  proceeded  off  Cape  St.  Vincent, 
with  a  view  to  go  more  northward,  or  to  act  as 
circumstances  of  intelligence  might  render  ne- 
cessary. The  Fleet  accordingly  stood  to  the 
northward  on  the  3d  of  Aug.  with  light  breezes, 
northerly,  and  hazy  weather.  After  some  days 
the  wind  became  more  favourable,  and  on  the 
12th  the  Niobe  was  spoken,  three  days  from  the 
Channel  Fleet,  at  which  time  no  intelligence  had 
been  obtained  of  the  Enemy's  arrival  in  any  of 
the  ports  in  the  Bay  of  Biscay.  On  the  15th  of 
August  they  fell  in  with  Admiral  Cornwallis  off 
Ushant,  and  in  the  evening  Lord  Nelson  received 
orders  to  proceed  with  the  Victory  and  Superb 
to  Portsmouth.  On  the  17th  the  Victory  at 
daylight  was  abreast  of  Portland,  at  eleven  she 
anchored  off  the  Princessa  Shoal  near  the  Isle  of 
Wight,  and  the  next  day  worked  up  to  a  good 
birth  at  Spithead — Just  two  years  and  three  months, 
adds  Lord  Nelson,  from  my  arrival  at  Portsmouth 
in  1803. 

Anno         (1805.)    XVII.    It  had  been  the  most 
.stat.47.  anxious  wjsh  Of  Lord  Nelson,  when  he 

2u 


6o8 

applied  for  leave  of  absence  on  account  of  his 
health,  prior  to  this  run  to  the  West  Indies,  to 
be  again  sent  out  to  the  command  of  a  Fleet,  in 
which  he  was  not  only  respected  but  beloved. 
The  voice  of  the  nation,  and  its  rulers,  accorded 
with  this  desire  in  a  manner  the  most  gratifying 
to  his  feelings.8 

Towards  the  end  of  August,  the  Hon.  Captain 
Blackwood  arrived  with  the  news  of  the  Com- 
bined Fleets  being  blocked  up  in  Cadiz  by  Ad- 
miral Colliugwood.  Oil  his  way  to  London  with 
the  despatches,  that  Officer11  as  he  passed  Lord 
Nelson's  Villa  at  Merton,  about  five  in  the  morn- 
ing, called  and  found  him  already  up  and  dressed. 
On  seeing  Captain  Blackwood  he  exclaimed,  I 
am  sure  you  bring  me  news  of  the  French  and  Spanish 
Fleets,  and  I  think  I  shall  yet  have  to  beat  them. 
The  answer  was  confined  to  giving,  as  briefly  as 
possible,  all  the  information  of  which  Captain 
Blackwood  was  the  bearer;  and  after  expressing 
hopes  that  he  should  witness  the  intended  drub- 
bing, SQ  well  foretold,  he  left  Merton  for  the  Ad- 
miralty. Lord  Nelson  immediately  followed,  and 
soon  afterwards  joined  him,  when  they  talked 
over  the  operations  that  were  intended  on  re- 
turning to  the  Mediterranean;  and  he  frequently 
repeated,  Depend  on  it,  Blackwood,  I  shall  yet  give 
Mr.  Villeneuve  a  drubbing. — Every  thing  was  soon 
afterwards  arranged  for  his  return  to  the  Medi- 

t  Vide  4to  Edit.  Vol.  II.  p,  421-2. 
h  From  a  Memoir  furnished  by  Captain  Blackwood. 


659 
* 

terranean,  and  on  the  night  of  Friday,  Septem- 
ber 13,  Lord  Nelson  having  taken  leave  of  his 
brother  "William  and  of  other  relations  who  were 
at  Merton,  with  a  mind  much  agitated  and  highly 
wrought,  pursued  his  route  to  Portsmouth  — 
To  serve,  as  he  expresses  it  in  his  Diary,  his  King 
and  Country.  He  arrived  at  the  George  Inn, 
Portsmouth,  at  six  in  the  following  morning,  and 
having  arranged  every  thing  with  his  accustomed 
quickness,  went  to  that  part  of  the  beach  to  em- 
bark for  the  Victory,  where  the  bathing  machines 
are  placed.  He  weighed  on  the  15th,  at  day- 
break, the  Euryalus,  Captain  Blackwood,  in 
company;  but  owing  to  a  contrary  wind,  they 
came  to  anchor  again;  they  however  by  sunset 
were  off  Christchurch,  and  by  the  evening  of 
the  next  day  off  the  Berry  Head. 

(1805.)  After  encountering  much  blowing 
weather,  the  Victory1  arrived  off  Cadiz  on  the 
29th  of  September,  the  Admiral's  Birth- day, 
when  the  necessary  orders  were  given  out  for 
the  Fleet;  and  what  is  remarkable,  it  was  on  the 
same  day  that  Admiral  Villeneuve,  as  he  after- 
wards informed  Capt.  Blackwood,  received  orders 
to  put  to  sea  on  the  first  convenient  opportunity. 
From  the  29th  of  Sept.  to  the  21st  of  October, 
Lord  Nelson  never  came  in  sight  of  land,  that 
the  Enemy  might  be  kept  in  ignorance  of  his 

'  The  Euryalus  was  detached  on  September  26  to  Admiral 
Collingwood,  with  orders  to  put  himself  under  Lord  Nelson'* 
command. 


660 

force:  the  wisdom  of  this  conduct  was  strongly 
proved  by  subsequent  events.  Villeneuve  repeat- 
edly declared  his  belief,  that  Lord  Nelson,  by 
detaching  six  sail  of  the  line  to  the  Mediterra- 
nean, had  reduced  the  British  Fleet  to  one-third 
weaker  than  that  of  the  Enemy.  Captain  Black- 
wood  had  received  orders  from  Rear  Admiral 
Louis,  commanding  the  advanced  Squadron  off 
Cadiz,  dated  on  the  29th  of  September,  to  take 
such  a  station  in  the  Euryalus  Frigate  off  that 
Harbour,  as  from  circumstances  of  wind  and 
weather  might  be  best  adapted  for  watching  the 
motions  of  the  Enemy's  Fleet,  and  preventing 
Vessels  from  entering  or  coming  out  unper- 
ceived.  On  the  5th  of  October  the  Admiral  sent 
the  Pickle  Schooner,  Lieut.  J.  Lapenotiere,  to 
Capt.  Black  wood,  to  assist  him  for  a  few  days  on 
the  look  out:  "Perhaps,"  added  Lord  Nelson, 
"with  an  easterly  wind  you  could  anchor  a  Fri- 
gate between  Cadiz  and  the  Pedro  Shoals,  taking 
care  that  she  did  not  anchor  until  two  hours  after 
dark,  au'd  that  she  weighed  two  hours  before 
day." 

(1805.)  The  Combined  Fleets,  on  the  10th  of 
October,  were  close  to  the  Porpoises  and  Dia- 
mond Rock  at  Cadiz,  a.nd  almost  out  of  the  har- 
bour, and  every  thing  tended  to  confirm  Lord 
Nelson  in  opinion,  that  their  destination  was  the 
Mediterranean.  On  that  day  he  issued  some 
standing  Orders,  by  one  of  which  the  different 
divisions  of  the  Fleet  were  instructed  to  bear 


661 

the  White  or  St.  George's  Ensign,  being  his  own 
colours,  in  order  to  prevent  confusion  from  a 
variety  of  flags,  and  to  hoist  Union  Jacks  at  the 
foretop  gallant  stay  of  each  ship,  as  a  distinction. 
.  During  the  ensuing  night,  it  blew  so  strong  at 
N.  W.  that  the  Enemy  could  not  venture  to  cast 
their  ships  loose;  and  their  continuing  thus  in 
port,  rendered  the  situation  of  the  blockading 
Fleet  very  critical;  as  Lord  Nelson  had  been 
led  to  think,  by  a  letter  from  his  friend  Admiral 
Young,  that  if  the  enemy  did  not  soon  sail,  he 
might  reasonably  expect  the  Brest  Fleet:  I  must 
therefore,  observed  he  in  writing  to  that  Officer, 
try  and  annihilate  them,  before  the  Cadiz  Fleet  can 
join. 

The  weather  on  the  14th  of  October  became 
more  favourable,  and  the  only  apprehension  was, 
Jest  the  Enemy's  ships  from  being  so  much 
crowded  at  the  harbour's  mouth,  might  have 
suffered  in  the  late  gales  and  be  in  consequence 
detained.  On  that  clay  Lord  Nelson  made  the 
following  arrangement  of  his  ships.  The  Defence 
and  Agamemnon  were  placed  from  seven  to 
eight  leagues  west  from  Cadiz,  and  the  Mars 
and  Colossus  five  leagues  East  from  the  main 
body  of  the  Fleet,  "  whose  station,"  adds  the 
Admiral  in  his  Diary,  "  will  be  from  fifteen 
leagues,  to  twenty,  west  of  Cadiz,  and  by  this 
chain  I  hope  to  have  a  constant  communication 
with  the  Frigates  off  Cadiz."  —  Lord  Nelson's 
Diary  then  continues  an  account  of  his  proceed- 


662 

ings  to  the  morning  of  the  twenty-first. — "  Wed- 
nesday, Oct.  16.  Moderate  breezes,  westerly.    All 
the  forenoon  employed  in  forming  the  Fleet  into 
the  order  of  sailing.  At  noon  fresh  breezes  VV  S.W. 
and  squally,  in  the  evening  fresh  gales.     Enemy 
as  before,  by  signal  from  the  Weaze.1,  Capt.  Peter 
Parker.     Oct.  17.  Moderate  breezes,  N.W.  sent 
Donegal  to  Gibraltar  to  get  a  ground  tier  of  casks. 
Received  accounts  by  the  Diligent  storeship,  that 
Sir  Richard  Strachan   was  supposed  in  sight  of 
the  French  Rochfort  Squadron,  which  I  hope  is 
true.     At  midnight  the  wind  came  to  the  east- 
ward.   Oct.  18.  Fine  weather,  wind  easterly,  the 
Combined  Fleets  cannot  have  finer  weather  to 
put  to  sea.    Oct.  19.  Fine  weather,  wind  easterly. 
At  half  past  nine,   the  Mars  being  one  of  the 
look  out   ships,   repeated   the  signal,*  That  the 
Enemy  was  coming  out  of  Port — Made  the  signal 
for  a  general  chase  S.E.  Wind  at  south,   Cadiz 
bearing   E.  N.  E.    by    compass,    distant   sixteen 
leagues.    At  three  the  Colossus  made  the  signal, 
That  the  Enemy's  Fleet  was  at  sea.     In  the  even- 
ing directed  the  Fleet  to  observe  my  motions 
during  the  night,  and  for  Britannia,  Prince,  and 
Dreadnought,  they  being  heavy  sailers,  to  take 
their  stations  as  convenient;  and  for  Mars,  Orion, 
Belleisle,    Leviathan,  Bellerophon,  and  Polyphe- 
mus to  go  ahead  during  the  night  and  to  carry 

k  Repeated  from  the  Euryalns,  Capt.  Blackwood,  who,  being 
stationed  off  the  harbour's  mouth,  fir>t  telegraphed  the 
being  at  sea. 


663 

a  light,  standing  for  the  Strait's  mouth.  Sunday, 
Oct.  20.  Fresh  breezes  S.  S.W.  and  rainy:  com- 
municated with  Phoebe,  Defence,  and  Colossus, 
who  had  seen  near  forty  sail  of  ships  of  war  out- 
side of  Cadiz  yesterday  evening;  but  the  wind 
being  southerly,  they  could  not  get  to  the  mouth 
of  the  Straits;  we  were  between  Trafalgar  and 
Cape  Spartel.  The  frigates  made  the  signal  that 
they  saw  nine  sail  outside  of  the  harbour — gave 
the  frigates  Instructions  for  their  guidance,  and 
placed  Defence,  Colossus,  and  Mars  between  me 
and  the  frigates.  At  Noon  fresh  gales  and  heavy 
rain — Cadiz  N.  E.  nine  leagues.  In  the  after- 
noon Captain  Blackwood  telegraphed,  that  the 
Enemy  seemed  determined  to  go  to  the  west- 
ward; and  that  they  shall  not  do  if  in  the  power 
of  Nelson  to  prevent  them.  At  five  telegraphed 
Capt.  Blackwood,  that  I  relied  upon  his  keeping 
sight  of  the  Enemy.  At  five  Na'iad  made  the 
signal  for  thirty-one  sail  of  the  Enemy  N.  N.  E. 
The  Frigates  and  look-out  ships  kept  sight  of  the 
Enemy  most  admirably  all  night,  and  told  me  by 
signals  which  tack  they  were  upon.  At  eight 
P.  M.  we  wore  and  stood  to  the  S.W.  and  at  four 
A.M.  wore  and  stood  to  the  N.E. " 

We  now  come  to  the  great  and  terrible  Day 
of  the  Battle;  when,  as  it  has  been  well  ex- 
pressed, GOD  GAVE  us  VICTORY,  BUT  NELSON 
DIED.  He  felt  that  the  twenty-first  was  the  last 
day  of  his  bright  Career,  that  it  had  been  a  me- 
morable day  in  his  family,  and  he  accordingly 


664 

prepared  to  die  that  his  Country  might  be  de- 
fended from  the  inveterate  Enemies  of  the  civi- 
lized World.  He  put  on  the  'Coat  which"  he  had 
so  often  worn  on  the  day  of  Victory,  and  which 
he  kept  Avith  a  degree  of  veneration :  The  various 
splendid  honours  he  had  received  from  different 
Nations,  were  plainly  worked  upon  it,  and  the 
Star  of  the  Order  of  the  Bath  which  he  had 
always  worn  with  a  peculiar  pleasure,  as  the  free 
gift  of  his  Sovereign,  he  resolved  should  appear 
in  the  Battle  and  be  nearest  his  heart  when  he 
fell :  In  Honour,  he  exclaimed,  /  gained  them, 
and  in  Honour  I  will  die  with  them.  On  leaving 
his  Cabin  he  went  over  the  different  decks,  spoke 
to  and  encouraged  his  men  with  his  usual  affa- 
bility, and  saw  that  the  preparation  for  Battle 
was  complete  throughout  the  Ship.  As  he  ascend- 
ed the  quarter  deck  ladder  he  was  greeted  with 
three  Cheers. 

Captain  Blackwood's  Memoir  contains  the  fol- 
lowing interesting  account  of  the  conversation 
he  had  with  Lord  Nelson  on  that  Morning.  "At 
six  o'clock  on  the  morning  of  the  21st,  my  sig- 
nal was  made  to  repair  on  board  the  Victory.  In 
a  few  minutes  I  went  on  board,  and  had  the  sa- 
tisfaction to  find  the  Admiral  in  good,  but  very 
calm  spirits.  After  receiving  my  congratulations, 

1  It  had  been  his  custom  for  years,  to  preserve  what  he 
termed  \xu\figktmg  Coat;  but  through  inadvertency  he  omitted 
to  wear  the  Sword,  so  much  regarded,  which  had  belonged  to 
Captain  M.  Suckling. 


665 

at  the  approach  of  the  moment  he  so  often  and 
so  long  had  wished  for,  he  replied,  /  mean  to- 
day to  bleed  the  Captains  of  the  Frigates,  as  I  shall 
keep  you  on  board  until  the  very  last  minute.  His 
mind  seemed  entirely  directed  to  the  /strength 
and  formation  of  the  Enemy's  line,  as  well  as  to 
the  effects  which  his  novel  mode  of  Attack  was 
likely  to  produce.  He  seemed  very  much  to  re- 
gret, and  with  reason,  that  the  Enemy  tacked 
to  the  northward,  and  formed  their  line  on  the 
larboard  instead  of  the  starboard  tack,  which 
latter  line  of  bearing  would  have  kept  the  Straits 
mouth  open.  Instead  of  which,  by  forming  to 
the  northward,  they  brought  the  Shoals  of  Tra- 
falgar and  St.  Pedro,  under  our  lee ;  and  also, 
with  the  existing  wind,  kept  open  the  port  of 
Cadiz,  which  Avas  of  infinite  consequence  to 
them.  This  movement  was  in  a  great  degree 
the  cause  of  Lord  Nelson's  making  the  signal  to 
prepare  to  anchor,  the  necessity  of  which  was 
impressed  on  bis  mind  to  the  last  moment  of  his 
life:  and  so  much  did  he  think  of  the  possibility 
of  the  Enemy's  escape  into  Cadiz,  that  he  de- 
sired me  to  employ  the  Frigates,  as  much  as  I 
could,  to  complete  the  destruction  of  the  Enemy 
whether  at  anchor  or  not;  and  not  to  think  of 
saving  ships  or  men,  for  Annihilation  to  both 
was  his  first  object  and  Capture  but  a  secondary 
one.  During  the  five  hours  and  a  half  that  I 
remained  on  board  the  Victory,  in  which  I  was 
not  ten  minutes  from  his  side,  he  frequently 


666 

i 

asked  me,  What  I  should  consider  as  a  Victory? 
the  certainty  of  which  he  never  for  an  instant 
seemed  to  doubt,  although  from  the  situation  of 
the  land  he  questioned  the  possibility  of  the 
subsequent  preservation  of  the  Prizes.  My  an- 
swer was,  "That  considering  the  handsome  way 
in  which  Battle  was  offered  by  the  Enemy, 
their  apparent  determination  for  a  fair  trial  of 
strength,  and  the  proximity  of  the  land,  I, 
thought  if  fourteen  ships  were  captured  it  would 
be  a  glorious  result;'  to  which  he  always  replied, 
/  shall  not,  Blacktvood,  be  satisfied  with  any  thing 
short  of  twenty. — A  telegraphic  signal  had  been 
made  by  him  to  denote,  That  he  intended  to  break 
through  the  Rear  of  the  Enemy's  Line,  to  prevent 
their  getting  into  Cadiz.  I  was  walking  with 
him,  continues  Captain  Blackwood,  on  the  Poop, 
when  he  said,  "  I'll  now  amuse  the  Fleet  with  a 
Signal;1'  and  he  asked  me,  "  if  I  did  not  think 
there  was  one  yet  wanting?"  I  answered,  that 
I  thought  the  whole  of  the  Fleet  seemed  very 
clearly  to  understand  what  they  were  about,  and 
to  vie  with  each  other  who  should  first  get 
nearest  to  the  Victory,  or  Royal  Sovereign. 
These  words  were  scarcely  uttered,  when  his 
last  well  known  Signal  was  made,  ENGLAND 

EXPECTS      EVERY     MAN      WILL     DO     HIS     DUTY. 

The  shout  with  which  it  was  received  through- 
out the  Fleet  was  truly  sublime.  Now,  said  Lord 
Nelson,  /  can  do  no  more.  We  must  trust  to  the 
Great  Disposer  of  all  Events,  and  the  Justice  of 


667 

our  Cause.     I  thank  God  for  this  great  oppor- 
tunity of  doing  my  Duty. " 

The  wind  was  light  from  the  S.W.  and  a  long 
swell  was  setting  into  the  Bay  of  Cadiz,  so  that 
our  ships  like  Sovereigns  of  the  Ocean  moved 
,  majestically  before  it;  every  one  crowding  all 
the  sail  that  was  possible,  and  falling  into  her 
station  according  to  her  rate  of  going.  The 
Enemy  wore  at  about  seven  o'clock,  and  then 
stood  in  a  close  line  on  the  larboard  tack  to- 
wards Cadiz:  at  that  time  the  Sun  shone  bright 
on  their  sails,  and  from  the  number  of  three 
deckers  amongst  them,  they  made  a  most  for- 
midable appearance;  but  this  so  far  from  appall- 
ing our  brave  countrymen,  induced  them  to  ob- 
serve to  each  other,  What  a  fine  sight  those  Ships 
would  make  at  Spithead.  "  About  ten  o'clock, 
continues  Captain  Blackwood  in  his  Memoir, 
Lord  Nelson's  anxiety  to  close  M'ith  the  Enemy 
became  very  apparent:  He  frequently  remarked 
to  me,  that  they  put  a  good  face  upon  it ;  but 
always  quickly  added,  Til  give  them  such  a  dress- 
ing as  they  never  had  before,  regretting  at  the 
same  time  the  vicinity  of  the  Land,  At  that 
critical  moment  I  ventured  to  represent  to  his 
Lordship  the  value  of  such  a  life  as  his,  and 
particularly  in  the  present  Battle;  and  I  pro- 
posed hoisting  his  Flag  in  the  Euryalus,  whence 
he  could  better  see  what  was  going  on,  as  well 
as  what  to  order  in  case  of  necessity.  But  lie 
would  not  hear  of  it,  and  gave  as  his  reason  the 


668 

force  of  Example,  and  probably  he  was  right. 
My  next  object,  therefore,  was  to  endeavour  to 
induce  his  Lordship  to  allow  the  Temeraire, 
Neptune,  and  Leviathan  to  lead  into  action  be- 
fore the  Victory,  which  was  then  the  headmost. 
After  much  conversation,  in  <vhich  I  ventured 
to  give  it  as  the  joint  opinion  of  Captain  Hardy 
and  myself,  how  advantageous  it  would  be  to  the 
Fleet  for  his  Lordship  to  keep  as  long  as  pos- 
sible out  of  the  Battle,  he  at  length  consented 
to  allow  the  Temeraire,  which  was  then  sailing 
abreast  of  the  Victory,  to  go  ahead,  and  hailed 
Captain  E.  Harvey  to  say  such  were  his  inten- 
tions, if  the  Temeraire  could  pass  the  Victory. 
Captain  Harvey  being  rather  out  of  hail,  his 
LordsUip  sent  me  to  communicate  his  wishes, 
which  I  did  ;  when,  on  returning  to  the  Victory, 
I  found  him  doing  all  he  could  to  increase  rather 
than  diminish  sail,  so  that  the  Temeraire  could 
not  pass  the  Viclory:  consequently,  when  they 
came  within  gun  shot  of  the  Enemy,  Captain 
Harvey  finding  his  efforts  ineffectual  was  ob- 
liged to  take  his  station  astern  of  the  Admiral." 
The  Combined  Fleet,  commanded  by  Admiral 
Villeneuve  in  the  Bucentaur,  consisted  of  thirty- 
three  powerful  ships,  eighteen  of  which  were 
French,  and  fifteen  Spanish:  amongst  the  latter 
was  Lord  Nelson's  old  antagonist  the  Santissima 
Trinidad  of  140  guns,  besides  two  of  112  guns, 
one  of  100  guns,  six  of  eighty  four  and  eighty, 
and  the  remainder  seventy  fours  of  a  large  class, 


669 

together  with  seven  frigates  of  heavy  metal, 
forty  four  and  forty  guns  each,  besides  other 
smaller  vessel^.  The  Spaniards  were  commanded 
by  Admiral  Gravina,  who  had  under  him  Vice 
Admiral  Don  J.  D'Aliva,  and  Rear  Admiral  Don 
B.  H.  Cisneros.  Villeneuve  had  under  him  Rear 
Admirals  Dumanoir  and  Magon.  Four  thou- 
sand Troops  were  embarked  on  hoard  the  Fleet, 
under  the  command  of  General  Contamin  in 
the  Bucentaur,  amongst  whom  were  several  of 
the  most  skilful  sharp  shooters  that  could  be 
selected,  and  many  Tyrolese  riflemen:  various 
sorts  of  combustibles  and  fire  balls  were  also  em- 
barked, as  had  been  their  practice  in  the  Battle 
of  the  Nile.  The  Spaniards  appeared  with  their 
heads  to  the  northward,  and  formed  their  Line 
of  Battle  with  great  closeness  and  correctness  ; 
and  as  the  mode  of  attack  by  Lord  Nelson  was 
unusual,  so  the  structure  of  their  line  was  new. 
It  formed  a  Crescent  convexing  to  leeward,  and 
Admiral  Collingwood,  in  leading  down  to  the 
centre,  had  both  the  Van  and  Rear  of  the  Ene- 
my abaft  his  beam.  Lord  Nelson,  in  the  Vic- 
tory, bore  down  at  the  head  of  the  weather  co- 
lumn, and  Admiral  Collingwood  in  the  Royal 
Sovereign  at  the  head  of  the  lee.' 

"Of  the  Victory  and  R,oyal  Sovereign,"  con- 
tinues Captain  Black  wood,  "it  would  be  impos- 
sible to  decide  which  achieved  the  most.  They 
both,  in  my  opinion,  seemed  to  vie  with  each 
other  in  holding  forth  a  brilliant  Example  to 


670 

the  rest  of  the  Fleet.  They  were  literally  in 
themselves  an  Host.  Admiral  Villeneuve  as- 
sured me,  that  on  seeing  the  novel  mode  of 
attack  intended  to  be  made  on  the  Combined 
Fleet,  and  which  at  that  moment,  he  confessed, 
he  could  not  in  any  way  prevent ;  he -called  the 
Officers  of  his  ship  around  him,  and  pointing  out 
the  manner  in  which  the  first  and  second  in 
command  of  the  British  Fleet  were  each  leading 
his  Column,  he  exclaimed,  Nothing  but  Victory 
can  attend  such  gallant  conduct.  When  Lord 
Nelson  found  the  shot  pass  over  the  Victory,  he 
desired  Captain  Prowse  of  the  Sirius  and  myself 
to  go  on  board  our  ships,  and  in  our  way  to  tell 
all  the  Captains  of  line  of  Battle  Ships,  that  he 
depended  on  their  exertions;  and  that  if,  by  the 
mode  of  attack  prescribed,  they  found  it  im- 
practicable to  get  into  Action  immediately,  they 
might  adopt  whatever  they  thought  best,  pro- 
vided it  led  them  quickly  and  closely  alongside 
an  Enemy.  He  then  again  desired  me  to  go 
away ;  and  as  we  were  standing  on  the  front  of 
the  Poop,  T  took  his  hand  and  said,  '  I  trust,  my 
Lord,  that  on  my  return  to  the  Victory,  which 
will  be  as  soon  as  possible,  I  shall  find  your 
Lordship  well  and  in  possession  of  twenty  Prizes.' 
On  which  he  made  this  reply,  God  bless  you, 
Blackwood,  I  shall  never  speak  to  you  again. " 

In  the  first  heat  of  the  Action,  Mr.  Scott,  the 
Admiral's  Secretary,  was  killed  by  a  cannon  ball 
whilst  in  conversation  with  Captain  Hardy,  and 


671 

near  to  Lord  Nelson.     Captain  Adair  of  the  ma- 
rines, endeavoured  to  remove  the  mangled  body, 
but  it  had  attracted  the  notice  of  the  Admiral 
—  Is  that  poor  Scott,  said  he,  who  is  gone  ?     After- 
wards,   whilst  he  was  conversing  with  Captain 
Hardy  on  the  quarter-deck,  during  the  shower 
of  musket  balls  and  raking  fire  that  was  kept  up 
by  the  Enemy,  a  double  headed  shot  came  across 
the  poop  and  killed  eight  of  the  marines.     Cap- 
tain Adair  was  then  directed  by  him  to  disperse 
his  men  round  the  ship.     In  a  few  minutes,    a 
shot  struck  the  fore  brace  bits  on  the  quarter- 
deck,   and  passing  between   Lord   Nelson  and 
Captain  Hardy,   drove  some  splinters  from   the 
bits  about  them,  and  bruised  Captain    Hardy's 
foot.     They  mutually  looked  at  each  other,  when 
NELSON,  whom  no  danger  could  affect,   smiled 
and  said,   This  is  too  warm  work,  Hardy,   to  last. 
The  Redoubtable  had  for  some  time  commenced 
a  heavy  fire  of  musketry  from  her  tops,   which 
like  those  of  the  Enemy's  other  ships  were  filled 
with  riflemen.   The  Victory  however,  became  en- 
veloped in  smoke,    except  at  intervals  when  it 
partially  dispersed,    and   owing  to  the  want  of 
wind,  was  surrounded  with  the  Enemy's  ships. 
At  fifteen  minutes  past  one,   and  a  quarter  of  an 
hour  before  the  Redoubtable  struck,  Lord  Nel- 
son and  Captain  Hardy  were   observed   to  be 
walking  near  the  middle  of  the  quarter  deck : 
the  Admiral  had  just  commended  the  manner  in 
which  one  of  his  ships  near  him  was  fought, 


672 

Captain  Hardy  advanced  from  him  to  giye  some 
necessary  directions,  and  he  was  in  the  act  of 
turning  near  the  hatchway,  with  his  face  to- 
wards the  stern,  when  a  musket  ball  struck  him 
on  the  left  shoulder,  and  entering  through  the 
epaulet,  passed  through  the  spine,  and  lodged 
in  the  muscles  of  the  back,  towards  the  right 
side.  NELSON  instantly  fell  with  his  face  on 
the  deck,  in  the  very  place  that  was  covered 
with  the  blood  of  his  Secretary,  Mr.  Scott. 
Captain  Hardy,  on  turning  round,  saw  the  ser- 
jeant  of  marines,  Seeker,  with  two  seamen,  rais- 
ing him  from  the  deck :  Hardy,  said  his  Lord- 
ship, /  believe  they  have  done  it  at  last,  my  back- 
bone is  shot  through. 

Some  of  the  crew  immediately  bore  the  Admiral 
to  the  cockpit,  and  several  wounded  officers,  and 
about  40  men,  were  carried  below  at  the  same 
time,  amongst  whom  were  Lieut.  Ram  and  Mr. 
Whipple,  Captain's  clerk,  both  of  whom  died  soon 
afterwards.  Whilst  the  seamen  were  conveying 
Lord  Nelson  down  the  ladder  from  the  middle 
deck,  he  observed  that  the  tiller  ropes,  which  had 
been  shot  away  early  in  the  action,  had  not  been 
replaced,  and  desired  a  midshipman  to  remind 
Captain  Hardy  of  it,  and  to  request  that  new  ones 
should  be  immediately  rove.  He  then  covered  his 
face  and  stars  with  his  handkerchief,  that  he  might 
be  less  observed  by  his  men.  He  was  met  at  the 
foot  of  the  cockpit  ladder  by  Mr.  Burke  the 
purser,  who,  with  the  assistance  of  a  marine  sup- 


673 

porting  his  legs,  with  some  difficulty  conveyed 
him  over  the  bodies  of  the  wounded  and  dying 
men,  for  the  cockpit  was  extremely  crowded, 
and  placed  him  on  a  pallet  in  the  midshipmen's 
birth  on  the  larboard  side.  Mr.  Beatty  was  then 
called,  and  soon  afterwards  the  Rev.  Mr.  Scott 
attended;  and  his  Lordship's  clothes  were  taken 
off,  that  the  direction  of  the  ball  might  be  the 
better  ascertained.  You  can  be  of  no  use  to  me, 
Beatty,  said  Lord  Nelson ;  go  and  attend  those 
whose  lives  can  be  preserved.  When  the  surgeon 
had  executed  his  melancholy  office,  had  ex- 
pressed the  general  feeling  that  prevailed  on  the 
occasion,  and  had  again  been  urged  by  the  Ad- 
miral to  go  and  attend  to  his  duty,  he  reluc- 
tantly obeyed,  but  continued  to  return  at  inter- 
vals. As  the  blood  flowed  internally  from  the 
wound,  the  lower  cavity  of  the  body  gradually 
filled ;  Lord  Nelson  therefore  constantly  desired 
Mr.  Burke  to  raise  him,  and  complaining  of  an 
excessive  thirst,  was  supplied  by  Mr.  Scott  with 
lemonade.  In  this  state  of  suffering,  with  no- 
thing but  havoc,  and  death,  and  misery  around 
him,  the  spirit  of  NELSON  remained  unsubdued. 
His  mind  continued  intent  on  the  great  object 
that  was  always  before  him,  his  Duty  to  his 
Country;  he  therefore  anxiously  inquired  for 
Captain  Hardy,  to  know  whether  the  annihi- 
lation of  the  Enemy  might  be  depended  on;  but 
it  was  upwards  of  an  hour  before  that  Officer 
could  at  so  critical  a  moment  leave  the  deck, 

2  x 


674 

and  Lord  Nelson  became  apprehensive  that  his* 
brave  associate  was  dead.  The  crew  of  the  Vic~ 
tory  were  now  heard  to  cheer,  and  he  anxiously 
demanded  the  Cause,  when  Lieutenant  Pasco., 
who  lay  wounded  near  him,  said  that  one  of  their 
opponents  had  struck.  A  gleam  of  devout  joy 
lighted  up  the  countenance  of  NELSON  ;  and  as 
the  Crew  repeated  their  cheers  and  marked  the 
progress  of  his  Victory,  his  satisfaction  visibly 
increased.  Will  no  one,  exclaimed  he,  bring 
Hardy  to  me  ?  He  must  be  killed,  I  am  certain  he. 
is  dead.  Mr.  Bulkley,  the  Captain's  Aidde  Camp, 
then  came  below,  and  in  a  low  voice  communi- 
cated to  the  Surgeon  the  particular  circum- 
stances respecting  the  Fleet  which  had  detainee} 
Captain  Hardy,  but  that  he  would  take  the  first 
moment  that  offered  to  leave  the  deck.  The 
excessive  heat  of  the  Cockpit  from  the  numbers; 
of  the  dead  and  wounded,  increased  the  faint- 
ness  of  the  dying  Admiral,  and  his  sight  became 
dim:  Who  brought  the  message?  said  he  feebly, 
"  Bulkley,  my  Lord,"  replied  Mr.  Burke.  //  is 
his  voice,  said  NELSON;  remember  me,  Bulkley,  tat 
your  Father.  Captain  Hardy  soon^  afterwards 
came  down  from  the  Deck,  and  anxiously  strove 
to  conceal  the  feelings  with  which  he  had  been 
struggling.  How  goes  the  Day  with  us,  Hardy  ? 
"Ten  ships,  my  Lord,  have  struck."  But  none 
of  ours  I  hope.  "  There  is  no  fear,  my  dear 
Lord,  of  that.  Five  of  their  Van  have  tacked, 
and  shew  an  intention  of  bearing  down  upon  us ; 


675 

but  I  have  called  some  of  our  fresh  ships  round 
the  Victory,  and  have  no  doubt  of  your  com- 
plete success."  Having  said  this,  he  found  him- 
self unable  any  longer  to  suppress  the  yearnings 
of  a  brave  and  affectionate  heart,  and  hurried 
away  for  a  time  to  conceal  the  bitterness  of  his 
sorrow. 

The   firinor  continued  and  the  cheers  of  the 

O 

men  were  occasionally  heard  amidst  its  repeated 
peals.  With  a  wish  to  support  his  spirits  that 
were  in  some  degree  shaken  by  having  seen  the 
Friend  he  so  sincerely  regarded,  and  from  the 
increased  pain  under  which  he  had  to  endure  the 
agonies  cf  excessive  thirst,  and  the  great  diffi- 
culty of  respiration,  Mr.  Burke  said,  "  I  still 
hope,  my  Lord,  you  will  carry  this  glorious  news 
home."  Dont  talk  nonsense,  replied  the  Admiral, 
one  would,  indeed,  like  to  live  a  little  longer,  but 
I  know  it  to  be  impossible :  God's  Will  be  done.  I 
have  performed  my  Duty,  and  I  devoutly  thank 
Him  for  it.  A  wounded  Seaman  was  lying  near 
him  on  a  pallet,  waiting  for  amputation,  and  in, 
the  bustle  that  prevailed  was  hurt  by  some  per- 
son passing  by:  NELSON,  weak  as  he  was,  in- 
dignantly turned  his  head,  and  with  his  usual 
authority  reprimanded  the  man  for  not  having 
more  humanity.  Sometime  afterwards  he  was 
again  visited  by  the  Surgeon:  I  find,  said  he, 
something  rising  in  my  breast,  wliich  tells  me  I 
shall  soon  be  gone,  God  be  praised  that  I  have 


676 

done  my  duty.     My  Pain  is  so  severe,   that  I  de- 
voutly wish  to  be  released. 

A  most  spirited  and  continued   fire  had  been 
kept  up  from  the  Victory's  starboard  guns  on 
the  Redoubtable,  for  about  fifteen  minutes  after 
Lord  Nelson  was  wounded  ;  in  which  time  Cap- 
tain Adair  and  about  eighteen  Seamen  and  Ma- 
rines  were  killed,   and   Lieutenant    Bligh,    Mr. 
Palmer,    Midshipman,    and  twenty  Seamen  and 
Marines  were    wounded   by   the   Enemy's   musr 
quetry  alone:   Lord  Nelson  did  not  allow  of  any 
small  arms  in  the  'tops  of  the  Victory,  from  the 
danger   of  setting  fire    to  the  sails.      The  Re-: 
doubtable   had  been    twice  on   fire   in  her  fore 
chains   and   on  the  foreca*t!e,    and   by  throwing 
some  combustibles  had  set  fire  to  the  Victory: 
the    alarm    was    given,     which    reached    to  the 
Cockpit,   yet  neither  hurry  nor  trepidation  ap- 
peared, and  the  Crew  having  put  out  the  flames, 
immediately  turned   their  attention  to  the  Re- 
doubtable, and  rendered  her  all  the  assistance  in 
their  power.     On  the  colours  of  that  ship  being 
struck,   and  no  possibility  of  boarding  her  ap- 
pearing from  the  state  of  ruin  of  both  ships, 
and  the  closing  of  the  Enemy's  ports,  some  Sea- 
men immediately  volunteered  their  services  to 
Lieut.    Quillam,    to  jump   overboard,    and,    by 
smimming  under  the  bows   of  the  Redoubtable, 
to  endeavour  to  secure  the  Prize;  but  Captain 
Hardy  thought  the  lives  of  such  men  too  valu- 


677 

able  to  be  risked  by  so  desperate  an  attempt. 
Afterwards,  when  the  firing  from  the  Victory 
had  in  some  measure  ceased,  and  the  glorious 
result  of  the  day  was  accomplished,  Captain 
Hardy  immediately  visited  the  dying  Chief,  and 
reported  the  entire  number  that  had  struck : 
God  be  praised,  Hardy!  bring  the  Fleet  to  an 
anchor.  The  delicacy  of  Captain  Hardy's  situ- 
ation, from  there  being  no  Captain  of  the  Fleet, 
was  peculiarly  embarrassing;  and,  with  as  much 
feeling  as  the  subject  would  admit  of,  he  hinted 
at  the  Command  devolving  on  Admiral  Colling- 
wood.  NELSON  feeling  the  vast  importance  of 
the  Fleet  being  brought  to  anchor,  and  with  the 
ruling  passion  of  his  soul  predominant  in  death, 
replied,  and  somewhat  indignantly,  Not  whilst  I 
live,  I  hope  Hardy  ;  and  vainly  endeavouring,  at 
the  moment,  to  raise  himself  on  the  Pallet,  Do 
you,  said  he,  bring  the  Fleet  to  anchor.  Captain 
Hardy  was  returning  to  the  Deck,  when  the  Ad- 
miral called  him  back  and  begged  him  to  come 
near.  Lord  Nelson  then  delivered  his  last  in- 
junctions, and  desired  that  his  body  might  be 
carried  home  to  be  buried,  unless  his  Sovereign 
should  otherwise  desire  it,  by  the  bones  of  his 
Father  and  Mother.  He  then  took  Captain 
Hardy  by  the  hand,  and  observing,  that  he 
would  most  probably  not  see  him  again  alive, 
the  dying  Hero  desired  his  brave  associate  to 
kiss  him,  that  he  might  seal  their  long  Friend- 
ship with  that  affection  which  pledged  sincerity 


6?8 

in  Death. — Captain  Hardy  stood  for  a  few  mi- 
nutes over  the  body  of  him  he  so  truly  regarded, 
in  silent  agony,  and  then  kneeling  down  again, 
kissed  his  forehead:  fPho  is  thaf,  said  the  dying 
Hero.  "  It  is  Hardy,  my  Lord."  God  bless  you, 
Hardy,  replied  NELSON  feebly,  and  afterwards 
added,  Irtish  I  had  not  left  the  Deck,  I  shall  soon 
be  gone ;  his  voice  then  gradually  became  inarti- 
culate, with  an  evident  increase  of  pain  :  when, 
after  a  feeble  struggle,  these  last  \\rords  were 
distinctly  heard,  I  HAVE  DOXE  MY  DUTY,  I 
PRAISE  GOD  FOU  IT.  Having  said  this,  he 
turned  his  face  towards  Mr.  Burke,  on  whose 
arm  he  had  been  supported,  and  expired  without 
a  groan. 

XVIII.  The  Battle  had  been  sorely  contested, 
and  the  slaughter  on  board  the  Enemy  almost 
unprecedented :  in  the  British  Fleet  423  were 
killed,  and  1064-  wounded,  many  of  whom  died 
afterwards.  The  Ships  that  pressed  forward 
after  their  gallant  Chiefs  in  the  weather  and  lee 
Columns,  are  described  by  Admiral  CollingWood, 
as  breaking  through  in  all  parts  astern  of  their 
leaders,  and  engaging  the  Enemy  at  the  muzzles 
of  their  guns:  "The  conflict,"  adds  he,  "was 
severe;  the  Enemy's  ships  were  fought  with  a 
gallantry  highly  honourable  to  their  Officers;  but 
the  attack  on  them  was  irresistible,  and  it  pleased 
the  Almighty  Disposer  of  all  events  to  grant  his 
Majesty's  arms  a  complete  and  glorious  Victory. 
About  three  P.M.  many  of  the  Enemy's  ships 


'679 

having  struck  their  Colours,    their  line  gave 
way:  Admiral  Gravina,   with  the  Ships  joining 
their  Frigates  to  lee\vard,    stood  towards  Cadiz. 
The  five  headmost  ships  in  their  Van  tacked,  and 
standing  to  the  southward,  to  windward  of  the 
British  Line,   were  engaged,   and  the  sternmost 
bf  them  taken ;  the  others  went  off,   leaving  to 
his   Majesty's   Squadron  nineteen   ships  of  the 
line,  (of  which  two  are  first  rates,  the  Santissima 
Trinidad  and   the  Santa  Anna)  with  three  Flag 
Officers,    viz.  Admiral  Villeneuve  the  Comman- 
der in  Chief,  Don  Ignatio  Maria  d'Aliva,  Vice 
Admiral,  and   the   Spanish    Rear  Admiral   Don 
Baltazar  Hidalgo  Cisneros.     After  such  a  Vic- 
tory,   it   may  appear  unnecessary  to  enter  into 
encomiums  on  the  particular  parts  taken  by  the 
several  Commanders;  the  conclusion  says  more 
on  the  subject  than  I  have  language  to  express. 
The   Spirit  which   animated  all   was   the   same. 
When   all    exert   themselves  zealously    in   their 
Country's  Service,   all   deserve  that  their  high 
merits  should  stand  recorded,    and  never   Avas 
high  Merit  more  conspicuous  than  in  the  Battle 
I   have  described.     The  Achille,   a   French  se- 
venty-four,    by    some    mismanagement    of  the 
Frenchmen  after  her  surrender,   took   fire    and 
blew  up ;  200  of  her  men  were  saved  by  the 
tenders  . . .  Such   a  Battle  could  not  be  fought 
without  sustaining  a  great  loss  of  men.     I   have 
only    to    lament    in    common   with    the    British 
Navy  and  the  British  Nation,   in  the  fall  of  the 


680 

COMMANDER  IN  CHIEF,  the  loss  of  a  Hero 
whose  name  will  be  immortal  and  his  memory 
ever  dear  to  his  Country:  But  my  heart  is  rent 
with  the  most  poignant  grief  for  the  loss  of  a 
Friend,  to  whom  by  many  years  intimacy  and 
a  perfect  knowledge  of  the  virtues  of  his  mind, 
which  inspired  ideas  superior  to  the  common 
race  of  men,  I  was  bound  by  the  strongest  ties 
of  affection  ;  a  grief  to  which  even  the  glorious 
occasion  in  which  he  fell,  does  not  bring  the 
consolation  which  .perhaps  it  ought.  I  have  also 
to  lament  the  loss  of  -those  excellent  Officers, 
Captains  Duff  of  the  Mars,  and  Cooke  of  the 
Bellerophon:  I  have  as  yet  heard  of  no  others. 
I  fear  the  number  that  have  fallen  will  be  found 
very  great  when  the  returns  come  to  me;  but  it 
having  blown  a  gale  of  wind  ever  since  the  Ac- 
tion, I  have  not  yet  had  it  in  my  power  to  col- 
lect any  reports  from  the  Ships. 

"  The  Royal  Sovereign  having  lost  her  masts, 
except  the  tottering  foremast,  I  called  the  Eury- 
alus  to  me,  while  the  Action  continued,  which 
ship  lying  within  hail  made  my  signals;  a  ser- 
vice Captain  Blackwood  performed  with  great 
attention.  After  the  Action  I  shifted  my  Flag 
to  her,  that  I  might  more  easily  communicate 
my  Orders  to,  and  collect  the  ships,  and  tow 
.the  Royal  Sovereign  out  to  seaward.  The  whole 
Fleet  were  now  in  a  very  perilous  situation  ;  many 
dismasted,  all  shattered,  in  thirteen  fathom  water 
off'the  shoal*  of  Trafalgar,  and  when  I  made  the 


681 

signal  to  prepare  to  anchor,  few  of  the  ships  had 
an  anchor  to  let  2:0,  their  cahles  bein«;  shot.  But 

O      '  £-* 

the  same  good  Providence  which  aided  us  through 
such  a  day,  preserved  us  in  the  night  by  the  wind, 
shifting  a  few  points  and  drifting  the  ships  off 
the  land,  except  four  of  the  captured  dismasted 
ships  which  are  now  at  anchor  off  Trafalgar. "k 

The  VICTORY  having  been  made  sea  worthy 
at  Gibraltar,  where  she  arrived  on  the  28th  of 
October,  passed  through  the  Straits  in  company 
with  the  Belleisle  during  the  night  of  the  4th  of 
November,  and  the  next  day,  at  noon,  joined 
the  Fleet,  under  Admiral  Collingwood,  cruising 
off  Cadiz.  Captain  Hardy  parted  company  in 
the  evening,  and  stood  for  England.  The  Body 
of  Lord  Nelson  had  been  preserved  with  the 
greatest  care  and  attention  by  the  Surgeon,  at 
first  in  brandy,  and  afterwards  on  arriving  at 
Gibraltar,  where  it  could  be  procured  in  a  suffi- 
cient quantity,  with  a  portion  of  spirits  of  wine 
mixed  with  it.  After  a  long  and  melancholy 
passage  the  Victory  arrived  at  Spit  head,  and  on 
the  llth  of  December,  sailed  for  the  Nore  ;  pre- 
vious to  which  the  body  of  Lord  Nelson  was 
again  examined.  His  sacred  remains  were  wrap- 
ped in  cotton  vestments,  and  rolled  from  head 
to  foot  with  bandages  after  the  ancient  mode  of 
embalming,  and  then  placed  in  a  leaden  coffin 
filled  with  brandy  holding  a  strong  solution  of 
camphor  and  myrrh :  this  was  enclosed  in  one 

k  See  Appendix,  No.  3,  the  official  letters  sent  by  Aduiirad 
Collingwood  subsequent  to  this  account  of  the  Action. 


682 

of  wood,  and  placed  in  the  after  part  of  his 
Lordship's  Cabin.  The  body  was  afterwards  on 
being  removed  from  the  Victory,  apparelled 
in  some  of  the  late  Admiral's  uniform  clothes, 
and  laid  in  the  Coffin  made  from  the  Mainmast 
of  L'Orient,  which  had  been  presented  to  Lord 
Nelson  in  L799,  by  Captain  Hallowell.  The 
whole  were  afterwards  enclosed  in  another  Coffin 
very  richly  ornamented,  and  adorned  with  va- 
rious devices,  which  was  sent  from  London. 

The  news  of  the  Victory  of  Trafalgar  was  on 
the  6th  of  November  announced  in  the  Metro- 
polis  by  the  Park  and  Tower  Guns.     The  De* 
spatches   from  Admiral   Collingwood   had    been 
forwarded  from  the  Admiralty  to  the  King  at 
Windsor,   who  received  them  at  an  early  hour. 
His  Majesty  was  much  affected,  and  a  profound 
silence,     which    continued    for    some    minutes, 
marked    the   gratitude    of  the    venerable   Mo- 
narch.    The   whole   of  the  Royal   Family   shed 
tears.     The  King  then  went  to  Chapel  to  return 
his  devout  thanks  for  the  Victory  ;  and  on  the 
following  clay   his   Majesty  in  Council   directed 
the  oth  of  December  to  be  proclaimed  as  a  day 
of  General  Humiliation  and  Praise  to  God  :  and 
it  was  also  directed  by  the  King,   that  the  Body 
of  the  British  Hero  should  be  buried  in  St.  Paul's 
at  the  Public   Expense,   with  Military  and  Na- 
tional Honours.     Accordingly  on  the  22d  of  De- 
cember the  body  was  removed  from  the  Victory 
on  board   the  yacht  of  Commissioner  Grey,  in 


683 

which  it  was  conveyed  to  Greenwich.  It  lay  in 
state  in  the  Painted  Hall  there  on  Sunday,  Ja- 
nuary the  5th,  1806,  and  the  t\vo  following  days, 
and  was  then  removed  to  the  Admiralty.  The  Fu- 
neral took  place  on  Thursday,  January  9th,  with 
all  the  splendour  and  funeral  grandeur  which 
could  be  devised  to  express  the  Nation's  Sense 
of  the  Loss  which  it  had  sustained.  Nearly 
10,000  regular  troops  marched  in  the  procession, 
which  was  attended  likewise  by  a  vast  number 
of  Naval  Officers,  Peers,  and  Commoners,  by 
H.  R.  H.  THE  PRINCE  with  the  rest  of  the  Princes 
of  the  Blood  Royal,  and  by  48  Seamen  and  Ma- 
rines of  II.  M.  S.  Victory,  and  the  Admiral's 
barge's  Crew.*1  A  Monument  was  afterwards 
voted  by  Parliament;  and  on  Portsdown  Hill, 
at  Liverpool,  Edinburgh,  Glasgow,  and  many 
other  principal  cities  and  towns  of  the  United 
Kingdom,  the  public  gratitude  has  dictated  the 
Vote  of  a  similar  distinction. 

The  Public  Character  of  Lord  Nelson  as  a. 
great  Naval  Officer  is  without  a  parallel  in  the 
age  in  which  he  lived.  The  splendour  of  his  pro- 
fessional career  proceeded  from  the  uniform  zeal 
by  which  his  conduct  was  inspired,  and  the  pro- 
found judgment  and  mature  reflection  by  which 
that  zeal  was  disciplined.  His  ardent  mind  was 
always  intent  on  the  one  great  object  of  Duty 
which  was  at  any  time  before  him:  It  Is  to  thc< 

v 

*  Vide  Quarto  Edit.  vol.  ji.  pages  460—463, 


684 

Day  of  Battle  (he  constantly  repeated  a  short 
time  previous  to  his  death),  It  is  to  the  Day  of 
Battle,  and  only  to  that  day,  that  I  anxiously  look. 
Like  an  experienced  Warrior,  and  a  great  Po- 
litician, he  never  steered  a  middle  coarse,  nor 
adopted  half  measures.  His  idea  of  naval  enter- 
prises was,  as  he  strongly  expressed  it  in  his  ad- 
mirable letter  to  Sir  Hyde  Parker  before  the 
battle  of  Copenhagen,  To  take  the  Bull  by  the 
Horns,  for  that  the  strongest  measures  were  the 
best.  All  his  Officers  were  sensible  of  the  power- 
ful energies  of  his  mind  on  Public  Duty,  and 
implicitly  relied  upon  them. 

The  consciousness  of  his  great  Abilities,  and 
the  zeal  which  incited  them,  frequently  gave  him 
an  appearance  of  what  has  vaguely  been  termed 
vanity;  which  seems  too  common  aird  degrad- 
ing an  appellation  for  that  Passion,  which  has 
fed  the  flame  of  genius  in  the  illustrious  men  of 
all  ages.  NELSON  often  felt  and  acknowledged 
•a  supernatural  influence  which  raised  him  above 
the  common  level  of  mankind,  and  made  him 
feel  from  his  youth  upwards,  that  he  was  born 
to  perform  great  and  unrivalled  exploits  :  If  God 
gives  me  life,  he  would  often  exclaim,  I  witt  be 
renowned. 

In  what  an  eminent  degree  Lord  Nelson  pos- 
sessed Wisdom,  properly  so  called,  the  following 
definition  of  it  will  amply  demonstrate :  "The 
general  conception  of  Wisdom  is  easy,  and  the 
character  of  it  invariable.  It  consists  first  of 


685 

the  deliberate  proposing  the  best  and  fittest 
end;  and  secondly  of  the  fixed  choice,  and  the 
steady  undeclining  pursuit  of  the  most  proper 
and  effectual  means,  in  order  to  promote  it." — 
This  clearly  appeared  in  his  orders  and  plans  of 
attack,  which  were  simple,  and,  when  made 
known,  easily  understood.  His  Wisdom  ex- 
tended throughout  his  squadron,  and  reflected 
lia;ht  on  those  who  would  otherwise  have  been 

O 

bewildered.  The  decision  and  consistency  which 
this  imparted  to  his  professional  conduct,  left 
no  room  for  doubt  or  uncertainty  in  the  minds 
of  his  Officers :  consequently  the  whole  circle 
of  Obedience  in  his  Fleet  was  perfect.  The 
manner  in  which  he  concluded  his  directions  to 
an  Officer,  when  he  wished  him  particularly  to 
exert  himself,  was  admirably  calculated  to  call 
forth  whatever  energies  he  possessed  :  I  am  con- 

Jident,  said  he  at  the  close  of  one  of  his  letters 
on  service,  that  you  will  act  as  appears  to  you  best 

for  his  Majesty's  service :  I  rely  with  confidence 
upon  your  Judgment,  Zeal,  and  Expedition. 

No  Commander  in  Chief  ever  struggled  more 
uniformly  than  he  did,  to  oppose  that  overruling 
political  interest  at  home,  which  prevented  an 
Admiral  from  rewarding  Merit,  when  the  very 
spirit  of  the  Service  required  it,  and  called  on 
him  to  preserve  a  general  emulation  throughout 
his  Fleet.  His  letters  to  the  different  Ministers 
demonstrate  his  judicious  feelings  on  that  in- 
creasing evil :  In  those  addressed  to  the  Admi- 


ralty,  many  of  which  have  been  necessarily 
omitted,  are  some  filled  with  his  reasons  for  an 
apparent  neglect  of  the  Long  List  of  names 
which  he  had  been  directed  to  promote.  NEL- 
SON frequently  brought  forward  Officers  of  great 
and  distinguished  ability,  whom  he  had  scarcely 
seen:  You  must  be  sensible  (said  he  when  writing 
to  a  great  Statesman  then  at  the  Admiralty), 
that  a  Commander  in  Chief  must  have  the  power  of 
rewarding  Merit,  if  he  uithes  for  good  conduct  in 
the  Fleet.  I  am  sure  I  need  say  no  more  to  your 
Lordship  upon  this  subject.  Wt  must  think  alike. 

His  anxious  care  of  the  Public  Money  and 
his  attention  to  an  economy  of  it,  never  con- 
tracted his  mind,  nor  rendered  him  callous  to 
the  feelings  and  comfort  of  his  men.  If  he  had 
treasure  at  any  time  on  board,  he  was  always 
restless  until  it  had  reached  its  destination:  yet 
though  so  vigilant  a  Steward  of  the  Nation's 
wealth,  he  equally  reprobated  that  occasional 
disposition  for  parsimony  which  periodically  af- 
fected the  energies  of  the  British  Government : 
"  No  man  (said  he,  when  writing  to  one  of  our 
Consuls  in  the  Mediterranean),  wishes  to  be 
more  economical  of  the  Public  Money  than 
myself;  yet  in  our  present  state,  and  with  the  sort 
of  people  whom  we  have  to  manage  in  these  mat- 
ters, Care  must  be  taken,  net  to  be  penny  wise  and 
pound  foolish."  He  also  particularly  complained 
of  old  unprincipled  men,  who  were  in  every  re- 
spect unfit  to  serve  their  Country,  being  allowed 


687 

to  retain  situations  abroad  of  great  national  im* 
portance:  One  of  his  letters  on  this.  subject  thus 
concludes,  We  should  have,  my  Lord,  younger 
men,  of  honour  and  of  business  :  If  they  are  money 
making  men,  they  ought  not  to  be  appointed. 

Like  all  men  of  great  genius  and  sanguine 
minds,  the  prejudices  of  Lord  Nelson  were 
strong,  and  sometimes,  when  unfairly  worked 
upon,  unconquerable:  as  one  not  easily  unjtind, 
but,  being  wrought,  perplexed  in  the  extreme.  The 
exquisite  tenderness  of  his  mind  UD.  warped  by 
their  force,  extended  to  all  with  whom  he  was 
connected,  and  operated  powerfully  on  their 
hearts.  The  grateful  Address  of  the  Barge's 


Crew  of  the  Foudroyant,    on  his  return  to 

*/ 

land  in  1800,  affords  an  interesting  proof  of  it. 
Whenever  he  found  himself  disappointed  in  any 
person  of  whom  he  had  formed  too  favourable 
an  opinion,  he  rarely  suffered  it  to  appear  by  a 
change  in  his  behaviour;  that  the  routine  of 
service  might  continue  to  glide  on  smoothly, 
and  the  harmony  which  prevailed  in  his  Fleet 
might  remain  uninterrupted. 

The  whole  Character  of  this  great  and  la- 
mented Admiral  was  consummated  by  his  uni- 
form sense  of  the  blessed  tenets  of  Christianity. 
This  raised  his  mind  above  those  mean  and  ig- 
noble passions  which  depress  the  Abilities  of  so 
great  a  portion  of  mankind,  and  rendered  him 
superior  to  the  rest  of  his  contemporaries,  be- 
cause he  acted  on  a  superior  principle  :  In  every 


683 

work  therefore  which  he  undertook,  in  the  ser- 
vice of  his  King  and  Country,  he  did  it  in  the 
language  of  the  sacred  Historian,  with  all  his 
heart,  and  prospered.  The  Fame  of  NELSON,  to 
use  nearly  the  words  of  one  who  justly  estimated 
his  various  excellence,  will  endure  as  long  as 
the  name  of  his  Country  shall  be  pronounced, 
in  new  ages  of  the  world  by  future  generations 
of  men,  and  it  will  be  esteemed  honourable  by 
posterity  to  have  lived  during  that  Era  which 
he  has  ennobled.  Let  us  then  consecrate  his 
Memory  by  emulating  the  perfection  of  his  Cha- 
racter, and  the  disinterested  zeal  of  his  ConHuct; 
and  should  the  time  hereafter  arrive,  when  on 
our  Native  Land  we  shall  be  called  to  protect 
the  .TOMB  OP  NELSON,  and  the  Liberties  which 
he  died  to  save/  may  his  immortal  Spirit  hover 
around  us,  and  with  the  blessing  of  God's  Provi- 
dence lead  us  to  Victory. 


APPENDIX. 

N°  l. 

Referred  to  atpageSQI. 

British  Line  under  the  command  of  Sir  John  Jervis,  K,  B 

on  the  \4th  of  February,  1797. 

N°                  Ships'  Names.  Guns. 

1  Blenheim 90 

2  Diadem 64 

3  Prince  George 98 

4  Irresistible 74 

5  Britannia 100 

6  Captain 74 

7  Egmont 74 

8  Victory 100 

9  Culloden 74 

10  Orion , 74 

1 1  Colossus 74 

^      12    Barfleur 98 

13  Excellent 74' 

14  Goliath 74 

15  Namur. 90 

Total  1232  Guns 

Total  Spanish  Line 2308 

Difference  against  the  British  10/6  Guni 

FRIGATES. 

Lively 32 

La  Minerve 4O 

Niger 32 

Southampton 32 

La  Bonne  Citoyenne 18 

Raven  brig 18 

v           Fox  cutter 12 

2Y 


690 


Spanish  Line  under  the  command  of  Vice  Admiral  Don 
Josef  Cordova. 


N*            Ships'  Names.  Guns. 

1  Bahama. .' 74 

2  Pelayo...    . ...  74 

3  San  Pablo 74 

4  N(  ptuno 84 

5  Concepcion 112 

6  San  Domingo 74 

7  Conquistador ^  74 

8  San  Juan  Nepomuceno*  74 

9  San  Genaro . 74 


Frigates  Names.      Gun« 


f  Brigida 34 

I  Casilda 34 

"S  Perla 34 

vMercedes . .      .34 


10  Mexicano 112 

1 1  Terrible 74 

12  Oriente 74 

13  Soberano 74 

14  SANTISSIMATRINIDADA-  136 

1 5  San  Nicolas 84  taken 

16  San  \sidro J> '4  ditto 

17  Salvator  del  Mundo  . .  112  ditto 

18  San  Ildefonso 74 


fPaz 34 

\  Dorotea 34 

•J  Guadalupe. ...  34 
J  Santa  Teresa  . .  34 
(_ Vigilante  (brig)  12 


19  Conde  de  Regla 

20  San  Firmin 

21  Firme 

22  Principe  de  Austurias. 

23  San  Antonio 

24  Glorioso ?, 

25  Atlante 

26  San  Francisco  de  Paula 

27  San  Josef 


Total 


Total  British  Line. 


112 

74 

74 

{Matilda  ...... 

/    •* 

112 

Diana  

74 

Atocha.  .    .  .  ;  . 

/  ^ 

74 

Ceres  

74 

74 

1  1  2  taken 

2308  Guns 

1232 

34 
34 
34 
34 


Difference  in  favour  of  the  Spanish  Fleet  10/6  Gum 


691 


List  of  the  Killed  and  Wounded  in  the  squadron  under  the 
command  of  Admiral  Sir  J.  Jervis  in  the  action  with  the 
Spanish  Fleet,  February,  14,  1797. 


, 

Ciiled. 

Won 

med. 

r-.tii 

Ships. 

JvoJnrted!  - 

Victory  .... 

O 

1 

0 

O 

0 

2 

3 

0 

Q 

Britannia  .  .  . 

O 

0 

0 

0 

0 

1 

O 

0 

1 

Barfleur  .... 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

7 

O 

0 

7 

PrinceGeorge 

O 

7 

1 

0 

O 

7 

0 

0 

15 

Blenheim  .  .  . 

0 

10 

o 

2 

2 

40 

O 

7 

6l 

Namur  

0 

2 

0 

O 

0 

5 

O 

0 

7 

Captain  .... 

1 

20 

0 

3 

2 

50 

O 

4 

80 

Goliath  

O 

o 

o 

o 

o 

4 

4 

O 

8 

Excellent  .  .  . 

1 

8 

2 

O 

o 

10 

2 

0 

23 

Orion  

o 

0 

o 

0 

0 

7 

2 

O 

g 

Colossus  .... 

0 

0 

0 

0 

0 

/ 

4 

1 

0 

5 

Egmont 

0 

0 

o 

0 

0 

0 

3 

o 

0 

Culloden  .  .  . 

] 

7 

2 

0 

0 

39 

8 

0 

57 

Irresistible  .  . 

0 

4 

1 

0 

] 

12 

1 

0 

19 

Diadem  .... 

o 

0 

O 

0 

0 

1 

O 

1 

2 

3x 

59 

6 

5 

5 

189 

21 

12 

300 

N°2. 
Referred  to  at  f  ages  485,  488. 

A  Return  of  the  Killed  and  Wounded  in  His  Majesty's 
Ships  under  the  Command  of  Sir  Horatio  Nelson,  K.B. 
Rear  Admiral  of  the  Blue,  &c.  &c.  &c.  in  Action  with 
the  French  Fleet  at  Anchor,  on  the  1st  of  August,  1798, 
off  the  Mouth  of  the  Nile. 


Kill 

Officers 

seamen 

Marine 

Total 

Officers 

inipg 

vlar:i,es 

TW*I 

Bounded  . 

Theseus  .... 

0 

5 

0 

5 

1 

24 

5 

30 

35 

Alexander.  .  . 

1 

13 

0 

14 

5 

48 

5 

58 

72 

Vanguard.  .  . 

3 

20 

7 

30 

7 

60 

8 

75 

105 

Minotaur.  .  . 

2 

18 

3 

23 

4 

54 

6 

64 

87 

Swiftsure  .  .  . 

0 

7 

0 

7 

1 

19 

2 

22 

29 

Audacious  .  . 

0 

i 

0 

i 

2 

31 

2 

35 

36 

Defence  .... 

O 

3 

1 

4 

O 

9 

2 

11 

15 

Zealous  

0 

1 

0 

1 

0 

7 

0 

7 

8 

Orion  

1 

11 

1 

13 

5 

18 

o 

20 

42 

Goliath  

2 

12 

7 

21 

4 

28 

9 

41 

62- 

Majestic  .  .  . 

3 

33 

14 

5O 

3 

124 

16 

143 

193 

Bellerophon  . 

4 

32 

13 

49 

5 

126 

17 

148 

197 

Leander  .... 

0 

0 

0 

0 

O 

14 

0 

14 

14 

16 

156 

46 

218 

37 

562 

78 

677 

8Q5 

692 


Officers  Killed. 


Officers  Wounded. 


Name  and  Quality. 


|        What  Ship.         | 


Captain  Wm.  Faddy,  Marines. 
Mr.  Thomas  Seymour,  Mid. 
Mr.  John  G.  Taylor,  Mid. 


VANGUARD 


'Mr  Nath.  Vassal,  Lieutenant. 
Mr.  John  M   \dye,  Do. 
Mr  John  Campbell,  Adm.Sec. 
M  .  Michael  Austin,  Boatsw. 
VJr.  John  -Vetherstone,  Mid. 
Mr.  George  Antrim,  Mid. 


THESEUS 


Lieutenant  Hawkins. 


Mr.  John  Collins,  Lieut. 


f  Alex;in  ^er  J    Ball,  Captain. 

\  John  Crow.  11.  c  t,-t.  Marines. 
ALEXANDFR    <  Mr.  William  Lawson,  Master. 


)  Mr.  Gt  >rge  Bully,  Mid. 
(.  Mr.  Lake  Anderson,  Mid. 


AUDACIOUS 


Mr.  John  Jeans.  Lieutenant. 
Mr  Charks  Footj  Gunner_ 


Mr.  Baird,  Captain's  Clerk. 


Mr.Wra  Davies,Master*sMate. 
Mr.  Andrew  Browne,  Mid. 


ORION 


GOLIATH 


C.  B.  Westcott,  Captain. 
Mr.  Zebedee  Ford,  Mid. 
Mr.  And.  Gilmore,  Boatswain 


Sir  James  Saumarez,  Captain. 

Mr   i'cter  Sadler,  Boatswain. 
Mi.  Philip  Richardson,  Mid. 
Mr  Charles  MciU,  Mid. 
Mr   Lanfesty,  Mid. 


/•Mr  WilliaAi1 
j  Mr.  Law  Gra 
\  Mr  P^ttrStr 
(.Mr.  James  Pa 


1  Mr  WilliajnWilkinson,  Lieut. 

Graves,  Mid. 
'.r  Strachan,  Schoolm. 
i-s  Payne,  Mid. 


!C  Mr.  Cl 
MAJESTIC.    1    VIr  Ch 
(.  Mr.  R. 


Mr.  Charles  Seward,  Mid. 
Charles  B  ^yle 

Overtoil,  Capt's  Clerk. 


Mr.  Robt.  Savage  Daniel,  Lieut.  J 
Mr.  P.  Watson  Launder,  Do.     (  RELLEROPHON 
Mr.  George  Jolliffe,  Do.  f  BELLE 

Mr.  Thos  Ellison,  Mast.  Mate.  \ 


Lt.  I.  S   Kircheser,  Marines 
Mr.  P.Walters,  Master's 


ines.       f 
s  Mate,  r 


MINOTAUR 


•  Henry  D.  Darby,  Esq.  Captain. 
Mr.  Edward  Kirby,  Master. 
CaptainJuhn  1  lopkins,Marine». 
Mr.  Chapman,  Boatswain. 
Mr.  Nicholas  Botham,  Mid. 

•  Mr.  Thomas  Irwin,  Lieut. 
Mr.  John  Irwell,  Lt  Marines. 
Mr.  T  Fcxt(;n,  becondMaster. 

.  Mr.  Martin  Wells,  Mid. 


SWIFTSURE        Mr.  William  Smith,  Mid. 


(Signed) 


HORATIO  NELSON, 


693 


Force  of  the  English  and  French  Fleets  at  the  Battle  of 
the  Nile. 


English. 

Numb 
Men. 

er  of 

Killed 

IVou  tided 

Nun 
French. 
Gunt 

berof 
Men 

How  dis- 
pused  of. 

Vanguard.. 
Orion  

74 

74 

H 

74 

74 
74 

74 

74 

74 
74 

74 

74 
74 
50 

595 
5QO 
590 
590 
590 
640 
59O 
590 
590 
590 
590 
590 
590 
343 

30 
13 
0 
49 
4 
23 
14 
1 
1 

7 
50 
21 
5 
0 

75 
29 
0 
148 
11 
64 
58 
35 
7 
22 
143 
41 
30 
11 

L'Orient.  

120 
80 
80 
74 

74 
74 
74 
"4 

74 
74 
36 
74 
36 

18 
80 
74 
40 
40 

1010 
800 
800 
700 
700 
700 
70O 
700 
700 
700 
300 

700 

300 
50 
70 
800 
700 
400 
4OO 

Burnt 
Taken 
Do 
Do 
Do 
Do 
Burnt 
Taken 
Do 
Do 
Burnt 
Taken 
Sunk 
Burnt 
Taken 
Escaped 
Do 
Do 
Do 

Cullodcn  .  . 
Bellerophon 
Defence  .  .  . 
Minotaur.  . 
Alexander. 
Audacious. 
Zealous  .  .  . 
Swiftsure  .  . 
Majestic.  .  . 
Goliah  .... 
Theseus.  .  . 
Leander..  . 

Le  C.onquerant  .... 
Le  Spartiate  
Le  Timoleon  

Le  Sovereign  Peuple 

Le  Mercure  

L'Artenrise  

L'Hercule  (Bomb) 

Le  Guillaume  Tell 

La  Diane  

012 

806« 

•-M8 

677 

1106 

11230' 

Complement  of  men  on  board  the  French  ships  burnt,  taken,  ~\ 

and  sunk  at  the  battle  of  the  Nile  ;  as  by  certificates  from  >      8930 
the  commissaries  and  officers  of  the  different  ships j 

Sent  on  shore  by  cartel,  inclnding  the  wounded,  as  by 

certificates  from  Captain  Barry  of  L'Alceste 

Escaped  from  the  Timoleon 350 

Escaped  from  L'Heicule  (Bomb) 50 

Officers,  carpenters,  and  caulkers,  prisoners  on  board 
the  fleet    


3105 


200 


3705 


Taken,  drowned,  burnt,  and  missing 5525 


(Signed) 


HORATIO  NELSON. 


694 

« 

N°3. 
Referred  to  at  page  681. 

Euraylus,  off  Cadiz,  October  24th,  1805. 
SIR, 

In  my  letter  of  the  22d,  I  detailed  to  you,  for  the  Informa- 
tion of  the  Lords  Commissioners  of  the  Admiralty,  the  proceed- 
ings of  His  Majesty's  Squadron  on  the  day  of  the  Action,  and 
that  preceding  it,  since  which  I  have  had  a  continued  series  of 
misfortunes  5  but  they  are  of  a  kind  that  human  prudence  could 
not  possibly  provide  against,  or  my  skill  prevent. 

On  the  22d  in  the  morning,  a  strong  southerly  wind  blew 
with  squally  weather,  which  however  did  not  prevent  the  activity 
of  the  Officers  and  Seamen  of  such  ships  as  were  manageable, 
from  getting  hold  of  many  of  the  Prizes  (thirteen  or  fourteen) 
and  towing  them  off  to  the  westward,  where  I  ordered  them  to 
rendezvous  round  the  Royal  Sovereign,  in  tow  by  the  Neptune: 
but  on  the  23d  the  gale  increased,  and  the  sea  ran  so  high,  that 
many  of  them  broke  the  tow-rope,  and  drifted  far  to  leeward,  be- 
fore they  were  got  hold  of  again  j  and  some  of  them,  taking  ad- 
vantage of  the  dark  and  boisterous  night,  got  before  the  wind ; 
and  have  perhaps  drifted  upon  the  shore  and  sunk;  on  the  after- 
noon of  that  day  the  remnant  of  the  Combined  Fleet,  ten  sail 
of  ships,  who  had  not  been  much  engaged,  stood  up  to  leeward 
of  my  shattered  and  straggled  Charge,  as  if  meaning  to  attack 
them,  which  obliged  me  to  collect  a  force  out  of  the  least  injured 
ships,  and  form  to  leeward /or  their  defence;  all  this  retarded 
the  progress  of  the  hulks,  and  the  bad  weather  continuing,  de- 
termined me  to  destroy  all  the  leewardmost  that  could  be  cleared 
of  the  men,  considering  that  keeping  possession  of  the  ships  was 
a  matter  of  little  consequence,  compared  with  the  chance  of  their 
falling  again  into  the  hands  of  the  Enemy :  but  even  this  was  an 
arduous  task  in  the  high  sea  which  was  running.  I  hope,  how- 
ever, it  has  been  accomplished  to  a  considerable  extent;  I  en- 
trusted it  to  skilful  Officers,  who  would  spare  no  pains  to  exe- 
cute what  was  possible.  The  Captains  of  the  Prince  and  Neptune 


695 

cleared  the  Trinidada,  and  sunk  her.     Captains  Hope,  Byntun, 
and  Malcolm,  who  joined  the  Fleet  this  moment  from  Gibraltar, 
had  the  charge  of  destroying  five  others.     The  Redoubtable  sunk 
a-stern  of  the  Swiftsure,  while  in  tow.     The  Santa  Anna,  I  have 
no  doubt,   is  sunk,  as  her  side  was  almost  entirely  beat  in}  and 
such  is  the  shattered  condition  of  the  whole  of  them,  that  unless 
the  weather  moderates,  T  doubt  whether  I  shall  be  able  to  carry  a 
ship  of  them  into  port.  I  hope  their  Lordships  will  approve  of  what  I 
(having  only  in  consideration  the  destruction  of  the  Enemy's  Fleet) 
have  thought  a  measure  of  absolute  necessity.      I  have  taken 
Admiral  Villeneuve  into  this  ship ;  Vice-Admiral  Don  Aliva  is 
dead.     Whenever  the  temper  of  the  weather  will  permit,  and 
I  can  spare  a  frigate  (for  there  were  only  four  in  the  action  with 
the  Fleet,  Euryalus,  Sirius,  Phoebe,  and  Naiad  j  the  Melpomene 
joined  the  22d,  and  the  Eurydice  and  Scout  the  23d,)  I  shall  col- 
lect the  other  Flag  Officers  and  s£nd  them  to  England  with  their 
Flags  (if  they  do  not  go  to  the  bottom)  to  be  laid  at  his  Majesty's 
feet.     There  were   four  thousand  troops  embarked,  under  the 
command  of  General  Contamin,  who  was  taken  with  Admiral 
Villeneuve  in  the  Bucentaur. 

I  am,  Sir,  &c.         C.  COLLINGWOOD. 


Letter  from    the    Right    Honourable  Lord    Collingwood,t 
Flee- Admiral  of  t lie  Red,  &c.  &c.  to  William  Mars- 
den,   Esq.   dated  on  board -the    Euryalus,    off  Cadiz, 
October  28,  1805. 

SIB, 

Since  my  Letter  to  you  of  the  24th,  stating  the  proceedings 
of  His  Majesty's  Squadron,  our  situation  has  been  the  most  cri- 
tical, and  our  employment  the  most  arduous,  that  ever  a  Fleet 
was  engaged  in.  On  the  24th  and  25th  it  blew  a  most  violent 
gale  of  wind,  which  completely  dispersed  the  ships,  and  drovt 
the  captured  hulls  in  all  directions. 


696 

I  hare  since  been  employed  in  collecting  and  destroying  them 
where  they  are  at  anchor,  upon  the  coast  between  Cadiz,  and 
six  leagues  westward  of  Saint  Lucar,  without  the  prospect  of 
saving  one  to  bring  into  port. 

I  mentioned  in  my  former  Letter  the  joining  of  the  Donegal 
and  Melpomene  after  the  Action :  I  cannot  sufficiently  praise  the 
activity  of  their  Commanders  in  giving  assistance  to  the  Squadron 
in  destroying  the  Enemy's  ships. 

The  Defiance,  after  having  stuck  to  the  Aigle  as  long  as  it 
was  possible,  in  hope  of  saving  her  from  wreck,  which  sepa- 
rated her  for  some  time  from  the  Squadron,  was  obliged  to  aban- 
don her  to  her  fate,  and  she  went  on  shore. 

Captain  Durham's  exertions  have  been  very  great.  I  hope  I 
shall  get  them  all  destroyed  by  to-morrow,  if  the  weather  keeps 
moderate. 

In  the  gale  the  Royal  Sovereign  and  Mars  lost  their  foremasts, 
and  are  now  rigging  anew,  where  the  body  of  the  Squadron  is 
at  anchor  to  the  N.W.  of  San  Lucar. 

I  find,  that  on  the  return  of  Gravina  to  Cadiz,  he  was  imme- 
diately ordered  to  sea  again,  and  came  out,  which  made  it  neces- 
sary for  me  to  form  a  line  to  cover  the  disabled  hulks.  That 
night  it  blew  hard,  and  his  ship,  the  Prince  of  Asturias,  was  dis- 
masted, and  returned  into  port.  The  Kayo  was  also  dismasted 
and  fell  into  our  hands;  Don  Enrique  M'Donel  had  his  broad 
pendant  in  the  Rayo,  and  from  him  I  find  the  Saint  Anna  wa« 
driven  near  Cadiz,  and  towed  in  by  a  frigate. 

I  am,  &c.  &c.  &c. 

C.  COLLINGWOOD. 


697 


GAZETTE  EXTRAORDINARY,  Nov.  27, 1805. 

Copy  of  a  Letter  received  last  night  ly  the  Honourable 
Captain  Blackwood,  from  Vice  Admiral  Lord  Colling- 
wood)  Commander  in  Chief  of  His  Majesty's  Ships  and 
Vessels  in  the  Mediterranean,  to  William  Marsden, 
Esq.  dated  on  board  His  Majesty's  Ship  the  Queen,  off 
•Cape  Trafalgar,  Nov.  4,  1805. 

SIR, 

ON  the  28th  ultimo  I  informed  you  of  the  proceedings  of  the 
squadron  to  that  time.  The  weather  continuing  very  bad,  the 
wind  blowing  from  S.  W.  the  squadron  not  in  a  situation  of  safety, 
and  seeing  little  prospect  of  getting  the  captured  ships  off  the 
land,  and  great  risk  of  some  of  them  getting  into  port,  I  deter- 
mined no  longer  to  delay  the  destroying  them,  and  to  get  the 
squadron  out  of  the  deep  bay. 

The  extraordinary  exertion  of  Captain  Capel,  however,  saved 
the  French  Swiftsure;  and  his  ship,  the  Phoebe,  together  with 
the  Donegal,  Captain  Malcolm,  afterwards  brought  out  the  Ba- 
hama. Indeed  nothing  can  exceed  the  perseverance  of  all  the 
officers  employed  in  this  service :  Captain  Hope  rigged  and  suc- 
ceeded in  bringing  out  the  lldefonso.  All  of  which  will,  I  hope, 
have  arrived  safe  at  Gibraltar.  For  the  rest,  Sir,  I  enclose  you  a 
list  of  all  the  enemy's  fleet  which  were  in  the  action,  and  how 
they  are  disposed  of,  which,  I  believe,  is  perfectly  correct. 

1  informed  you,  in  my  letter  of  the  28th,  that  the  remnant  of 
the  enemy's  fleet  came  out  a  second  time  to  endeavour,  in  the 
bad  weather,  to  cut  off  some  of  the  hulks,  when  the  Rayo  was 
dismasted,  and  fell  into  our  hands:  she  afterwards  parted  her 
cable,  went  on  shore,  and  was  wrecked.  The  IndomptabJe, 
one  of  the  same  squadron,  was  also  driven  on  shore,  wrecked, 
and  her  crew  perished. 

The  Santa  Anna  and  Algeziras,  being  driven  near  the  shore  of 
Cadiz,  got  such  assistance  as  has  enabled  them  to  get  in  3  but 


698 

the  ruin  of  their  fleet  is  as  complete  as  could  be  expected,  un- 
der the  circumstances  of  fighting  them  close  to  their  own  shore : 
had  the  battle  been  in  the  ocean,  still  fewer  would  have  escaped. 
Twenty  sail  of  the  line  are  taken  or  destroyed;  and  of  those 
which  got  in,  not  more  than  three  are  in  a  repairable  state 
for  a  length  of  time. 

Rear  Admiral  Louis,  in  the  Canopus,  who  had  been  detached 
with  the  Queen,  Spencer,  and  Tigre,  to  complete  the  water,  &c. 
of  these  ships,  and  to  see  the  convoy  in  safety  a  certain  dis- 
tance up  the  Mediterranean,  joined  me  on  the  30th. 

In  clearing  the  captured  ships  of  prisoners,  J  found  so  many 
wounded  men,  that,  to  alleviate  human  misery  as  much  as  was 
in  my  power,  I  sent  to  the  Marquis  de  Solana,  Governor- 
General  of  Andalusia,  to  offer  him  the  wounded  to  the  care  of 
their  Country,  on  receipts  being  given:  a  proposal  which  was 
received  with  the  greatest  thankfulness,  not  only  by  the  Gover- 
nor, but  the  whole  country  resounds  with  expressions  of  grati- 
tude. Two  French  frigates  were  sent  out  to  receive  them,  with 
a  proper  officer  to  give  receipts,  bringing  with  them  all  the 
English  who  had  been  wrecked  in  several  of  the  ships,  and  an 
offer  from  the  Marquis  de  Solana  of  the  use  of  their  hospital 
for  our  wounded,  pledging  the  honour  of  Spain  for  their  being 
carefully  attended. 

I  have  ordered  most  of  the  Spanish  prisoners  to  be  released; 
the  officers  on  parole,  the  men  for  receipts  given,  and  a  con- 
dition that  they  do  not  serve  in  war  by  sea  or  land  until  ex- 
changed. 

By  my  correspondence  with  the  Marquis,  I  fouud  that  Vice 
Admiral  DAI iva  was  not  dead,  but  dangerously  wounded  j  and 
I  wrote  to  film  a  letter,  claiming  him  as  a  prisoner  of  war. 

I  am,  &c. 

C.  COLLINGWOOD. 


699 


A  List  of  the  Combined,   Fleets  of  France  and  Spain  in 
the  Action  of  the  2ist  of  October  1805,  off  Cape  Tra- 
falgar, showing  how  they  are  disposed  of. 

1.  Spanish  ship.     San  Ildefonso,  of  74  guns;  Brigadier  Don 
Joseph  de  Vargas. — Sent  to  Gibraltar. 

2.  Spanish  ship.     San  Juan  Nepomuceno,  of  ?4  guns;  Briga- 
dier Don  Cosme  Churruea. — Sent  to  Gibraltar. 

3.  Spanish  ship.     Bahama,   of  74  gunsj  Brigadier  Don  A.  D. 
Galiano. — Sent  to  Gibraltar. 

4.  French  ship.     Swiftsure,  of  74  guns;  Monsieur  Villemae- 
rin. — Sent  to  Gibraltar. 

5.  Spanish  ship.     Monarca,  of  74gunsj  Don  leodoro  Argu- 
mosa. — Wrecked  off  Saint  Lucar. 

6.  French  ship.     Fougeux,  of  74  guns  j  Monsieur  Boaudouin. 
— Wrecked  off  Trafalgar :  all  perished  and  thirty  of  the  Teme- 
raire's  men. 

7.  French  ship.     Indomptable,  of  84  gunsj  Monsieur  Hubert, 
—Wrecked  off  Rota  :  all  perished. 

8.  French  ship.     Bucentaur,  of  80  gunsj  Admiral  Villeneuve, 
Commander  in  Chief j  Captains  Prigny  and  Majendie. — Wrecked 
on  the  Porques ;  some  of  the  crew  saved. 

9.  Spanish  ship.     San  Francisco  de  Assis,  74  guns;    Don 
Louis  de  Flores. — Wrecked  near  Rota. 

10.  Spanish  ship.     El  Rayo,  of  100  guns;  Brigadier  Don  Hen- 
rique Macdonel. — Wrecked  near  San  Lucar. 

11.  Spanish  ship.     Neptune,  of  84  gunsj  Brigadier  Don  Cay  - 
etano  Valdes,- — Wrecked  between  Rota  and  Catolina. 

12.  French  ship.     Argonaute,  of  74  gunsj  Monsieur  Epron. — 
On  shore  in  the  port  of  Cadiz. 

13.  French  ship.     Berwick,  of  74  guns;  Monsieur  Camas. — 
Wrecked  to  the  northward  of  St.  Lucar. 

14.  French  ship.     Aigle,  of /4  guns;  Monsieur  Courrege. — 
Wrecked  near  Rota. 


700 

15.  French  ship.  Achille,  of  74  gunsj  Monsieur  de  Nieuport. 
—Burnt  during  the  action. 

.    16.  French  ship.     Intrepide,  of  74  guns;  Monsieur  Infornet. 
— Burnt  by  the  Britannia. 

I/.  Spanish  ship.     San  Augustin,  of  74  guns;  Brigadier  Don 
Felipe  X  Cagigal. — Burnt  by  the  Leviathan. 

18.  Spanish  ship.     Santissima  Trinidada,  of  140  gunsj  Rear 
Admiral  Don  Baltazar  H.  Cisneros;    Brigadier  Don  F.  Uriarte. 
— Sunk  by  the  Prince,  Neptune,  &c. 

19.  French  ship.     Redoubtable,  of  74  guns:  Monsieur  Lucas. 
— Sunk  astern  of  the   Swiftsurej  Temeraire  lost  thirteen,  and 
Swiftsure  five  men. 

20.  Spanish  ship.     Argonauta,  of  80  guns ;  Don  Antonio  Pa- 
reja. — Sunk  by  the  Ajax 

21.  Spanish  ship.     Santa  Anna,  of  112  guns;  Vice  Admiral 
Don  Ignatio  D'Aliva;  Captain  Don  Joseph  de  Gardoqui. — Taken, 
but  got  into  Cadiz  in  the  gale,  dismasted. 

22.  French  ship.     Algeziras,  of  74  guns;  Rear  Admiral  Ma- 
gon,  (killed);  Captain  Monsieur  Bruaro.— Taken,  but  got  into 
Cadiz  in  the  gale,  dismasted. 

23.  French  ship.     Pluton,  of  74  guns;  Monsieur  Casnaao.— 
Returned  to  Cadiz  in  a  sinking'state. 

24.  Spanish  ship.     San  Juste,  of  74  guns;  Don  Miguel  Gas- 
ton.— Returned  to  Cadiz:  has  a  foremast  only. 

25.  Spanish  ship.     San  Leandro,  of  64  guns;  Don  Joseph  de 
duevedo. — Returned  to  Cadiz,  dismasted. 

26.  French  ship.     Neptune,  of  84  guns;  Monsieur  Maistral. — 
Returned  to  Cadiz,  and  perfect. 

27.  French  ship.     Heros,  of  74  guns;    Monsieur  Poulain. — 
Returned  to  Cadiz ;  lower  masts  in,  and  Admiral  Rossilie's  flag 
on  board. 

28.  Spanish  ship.     Principe  d'Asturias,  of  112  guns;   Admiral 
Don  F.  Gravina,  Don  Antonio  Escano,  &c. — Returned  to  Cadiz 
dismasted. 

29.  Spanish  ship.     Montanez,  of  74  guns;  Don  Francisco  Al- 
cedo. — Returned  to  Cadiz. 

30.  French  ship.     Formidable,  of  80  guns;  Rear  Admiral  Du- 
manoir. — Hauled  to  the  southward,  and  escaped. 


31.  French  ship.      Mont  Blanc,  of  74  gunsj  Monsieur  de 
Villegries. — Hauled  to  the  southward,  and  escaped. 

32.  French  ship.     Scipion,  of  74  gunsj  Monsieur  Beringer.— 
Hauled  to  the  southward,  and  escaped. 

33.  French  ship.    Duguay  Trouin,  of  74  gunsj    Monsieur 
Toufflet. — Hauled  to  the  southward,  and  escaped.i 

ABSTRACT. 

At  Gibraltar 4 

Destroyed 16 

In  Cadiz,  wrecks 6 

In  Cadiz,  serviceable 3 

Escaped  to  the  southward  . .  4 

Total  33 


A  List  of  the  Names  and  Rank  of  the  Flag  Officers 
of  the  Combined  Fleets  of  France  and  Spain  in  the 
Action  of  the  zist  of  October^  1805. 

Admiral  Villeneuve,  Commander  in  Chief  j  Bucentaur. 
Taken. 

Admiral  Don  Frederico  Gravinaj  Principe  D'Asturias.  Es- 
caped in  Cadiz:  wounded  in  the  arm. 

Vice  Admiral  Don  Ignatio  Maria  D'Alivaj  Santa  Anna. 
Wounded  severely  in  the  head :  taken,  but  was  driven  into  Cadiz 
in  the  Santa  Anna. 

Rear  Admiral  Don  Baltazar  Hidalgo  Cisnerosj  Santissima  Tri- 
nidada.  Taken. 

Rear  Admiral  Magon ;  Algeziras.     Killed. 

Rear  Admiral  Dumanoirj  Formidable.    Escaped. 


''  The  four  last  mentioned  ships  were  captured  by  Sir  Richard  Strachan  on 
the  24th  of  November. 


702 


Admiralty  Office,  Nov.  30,  1805. 

Copy  of  a  Letter  from  the  Honourable  Captain  Black- 
wood,  of  His  Majesty's  ship  Euryalus,  to  William 
Marsden,  Esq.  dated  this  day  at  the  Admiralty. 

SIR, 

Observing  in  the  Gazette  Extraordinary  of  the  27th  instant, 
that  the  number  of  the  enemy's  ships  taken  and  destroyed,  in 
consequence  of  the  action  of  the  21st  of  October,  is  stated  at 
twenty  sail  of  the  line,  I  take'  the  liberty  of  mentioning  to  you, 
for  the  information  of  my  Lords  Commissioners  of  the  Admiralty, 
that  as  this  must  be  intended  to  include  the  French  ship  Argo- 
naute,  of  seventy-four  guns,  which  ship  I*  had  an  opportunity 
of  knowing  was  safe  in  the  port  of  Cadiz,  it  will  be  proper  to 
state  the  actual  number  taken  .and  destroyed  at  nineteen  sail  of 
the  line.  This  apparent  inaccuracy  was  occasioned  by  the  de- 
spatch «f  the  Commander  in  Chief,  dated  the  4th,  having  been 
made  up  before  my  last  return  with  a  flag  of  truce  from  that 
port. 

I  am,  &c. 

HENRY  BLACKWOOD. 


THE    END. 


T.  Ecnslcy,  Printer, 
Bolt  Court,  Fleet  Street,  London. 


Clarke,  Janes  Stagier 
87  The  life  of  AcM^ral  Lord 

.1          Nelson 

N4D5 
1810 


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